Pilots awaiting FAA letters regarding medical condition reviews need to have some significant patience these days. This is not always an easy task, as in many such cases the FAA letter must be received before an AME can issue that pilot a new medical certificate. I have spent more than 30 years as an AME hoping this waiting game situation would improve, and sadly I am still knocking my head against the wall in frustration.
Before I get into some of the nitty-gritty of why there are seemingly undue delays in receiving FAA letters, I do want to give credit where credit is due. When an AME can get in contact with the FAA to discuss the urgency of a pilot receiving a review and subsequent authorization letter, they are “all ears” to help out. FAA staff members and physicians are actually eager to help out when they can.
Dr. Robert Sancetta is a former DC-10 captain with 11,000 flight hours. He has worked as a Senior AME since 1993 and is appointed as AME Consultant to the FAA Federal Air Surgeon.
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