Members Say It's Worth The Price Of Membership Alone

AOPA has provided members with information and counsel on medical certification challenges for many years. Members who have taken advantage of the service consider it to be one of their most valued basic membership benefits. Yet, as membership grows we find that new members, and even many long time members, aren't aware that this level of assistance is available to them as part of their $39.00 annual dues.

The Medical Certification group offers a broad scope of services and is responsible for an entire section of the AOPA website. Included on the site are two databases, one that provides the ability to search for domestic aviation medical examiners  by name, city, county, and state. The FAA allows the use of many medications, although with some precautions or restrictions. AOPA was one of the first web sites to offer an index of the more commonly prescribed medications.

You can also fine detailed subject reports for many medical conditions. The subject reports are based on the FAA's own specification protocols, but are expanded to provide as much "plain language" clarity and detail as possible. The medical home page also provides updates on recent medical certification policy changes and periodic news on happenings at the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City.

In 2001, AOPA launched TurboMedical, the first of a series of AOPA interactive forms that provides members an opportunity to complete the FAA 8500-8 medical application online and save the completed form for future reference. TurboMedical provides detailed explanations and instructions for each of the first twenty items on the 8500-8. Because the program is interactive, links are provided to subject reports or databases pertaining to the medical condition reported. This feature provides the user with valuable background information that allows more accurate completion of the application.

The complexity of the FAA medical application and the relative infrequency that pilots are required to complete the form makes TurboMedical a great planning tool for pilots to prepare well in advance of their next FAA airman physical examination. It reduces the chance of errors that can lead to an unnecessary deferral and lengthy grounding while the Aerospace Medical Certification Division reviews the application. Incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons for delays in issuing medical certificates. TurboMedical prompts the user as to what records should be available to support any "YES" responses on the 8500-8. AOPA has requested that the FAA allow the use of TurboMedical as an alternative method for pilots to complete the 8500-8 on their home computers prior to the physical examination. 

One of AOPA's best medical certification assets is the Board of Aviation Medical Advisors. This outstanding group of physicians and aviation medical examiners meets twice a year to provide counsel and recommendations to AOPA that assists the Association in formulating medical certification policy. We are fortunate to have the expertise of this group of aerospace medicine and legal specialists to supplement the in-house medical certification staff.

Speaking of the in house staff, AOPA has three full time medical certification specialists. Gary Crump is the Director and has been at AOPA for more than 16 years. His two medical certification technical specialists, Jo Ann Wilson and Jacquie Bozarth, are the real legs behind the department. They work directly with Dr. Silberman's General Review and Medical Appeals staff in Oklahoma City to help move member's medical cases, particularly those that require a special issuance authorization, through the review process. In 2003, they answered more than 20,000 member phone calls and emails and helped track and expedite the issuance of almost 2,000 special issuance and general review cases for AOPA members.

The staff works closely with the FAA Aerospace Medicine staff in both Washington and Oklahoma City to make certain the information provided to members is accurate and complete. A new medication doesn't get posted to the web list until the staff confirms its allowed status through Oklahoma City. A change in certification policy or procedures is on the website within hours of AOPA being made aware of the change.

One of the best remedies for dealing with medical issuance delays is education. All pilots who face medical challenges need to be as informed as possible about their conditions and how those conditions will affect their certificate eligibility. The more completely documented a case is when it goes to the aviation medical examiner, the sooner that pilot is going to be issued a medical certificate. Depending upon the condition, and with proper records from the treating physician in hand at the time of examination, the AME may be able to contact either the Regional Flight Surgeon or the Aerospace Medical Certification Division for authorization to issue a medical certificate rather than defer.

AOPA's staff of medical certification professionals plays a valuable role in the civil aeromedical education process. They often receive calls from AMEs who have procedural or policy questions about their airmen. More than 60% of all certificated pilots in the US are AOPA members. If you have a question and can't get in touch with your regional flight surgeon or the Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City, a call to the medical certification staff at 800 872 2672 may get the answer you need.

FMI: www.aopa.org/members/databases/medical