EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Forum, EAA Aeromedical Council Plan
Provide Basis To Reduce Backlog And For Continuing Improvement
One of the pilot
community's most pressing needs, the timely processing of aviation
medical certification special issuances, is poised for a practical
solution thanks to the work of the Experimental Aircraft
Association, its members and the EAA Aeromedical Council.
EAA President Tom Poberezny, EAA government relations staff and
Aeromedical Council representatives were invited to Washington,
D.C., on March 30 to meet with senior Federal Aviation
Administration officials that included Associate Administrator Nick
Sabatini and FAA Flight Surgeon Dr. Fred Tilton. During that
session, EAA followed up on the organization's recommendations
submitted to FAA last December.
"We were very pleased to hear that FAA had listened to EAA
members' concerns regarding medical certification delays and to
EAA's ideas to relieve the backlog of special issuance cases,"
Poberezny said (pictured below, right).
"FAA is taking immediate steps to ease the backlog, while at the
same time working toward sweeping, long-term improvement in the
medical certification process. This is a big step that will
benefit all pilots as they continue to enjoy the freedom of
flight."
EAA's recommendations to improve medical certification
processing were contained in a proposal that featured four major
points:
- Review of the interval between medical examinations
- Review of special issuance medical conditions, with the
potential for eliminating some and reduced reporting requirements
for others
- A "Super AME" concept, which includes Aviation Medical
Examiners willing to accept the responsibility of review and
approval authority for medical certifications
- Review of the Third-Class medical certification with
possibilities ranging from relaxed medical requirements to complete
elimination of that certificate.
EAA's proposal grew out
of the annual "Meet the Administrator" session at EAA AirVenture
2005, where EAA members and other pilots repeatedly voiced concerns
about the current medical certification process, particularly in
the areas of special issuances. Since this is a topic that
will affect tens of thousands of pilots during their lifetimes, EAA
used its positive relationship with government officials to craft
practical recommendations to meet this challenge.
In response, FAA called EAA's recommendations "right on target"
and is immediately undertaking several actions to ease the special
issuance backlog:
- FAA regional flight surgeons will help review special issuance
cases, increasing the number of doctors available to review and
approve these applications
- Increasing the number of approved conditions for which medical
examiners may renew special issuance certificates, instead of
sending those applications to FAA for review
- Educate AMEs to participate more fully in the Aviation Medical
Examiner Assisted Special Issuance process, in order to
dramatically ease the renewal of special issuance
certificates
- Explore EAA's recommendation for increased medical certificate
duration and greater delegation of authority to individual AMEs
under EAA's "Super AME" proposal.
"EAA's Aeromedical Council of physicians, who volunteer to
assist fellow EAA members with medical questions and issues, has
done outstanding work to outline the current situation and provide
solutions," Poberezny said.
"EAA and this council will continue to work with FAA to ensure
that the promised changes are implemented to improve the process
for all pilots."
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