I came to AOPA in 1987 shortly after graduation from Florida Institute of Technology (now Florida Tech) shortly before our second association president, John Baker retired. Doing the math, I have worked with and for six presidents/CEOs including John, Phil Boyer, Craig Fuller, Mark Baker, and now Darren Pleasance. (A detailed history of AOPA is available if you wanna take a deeper dive into your Association.)
One of Phil’s favorite truisms was “A good pilot is always learning.” One could substitute any noun in place of “pilot” and the truth would still be there. When it comes to a medical certificate, learning can go a long way. Especially now with lots of changes in the last several years that have increased the number of medical conditions that historically required a deferral to FAA for a decision that can now be issued by your aviation medical examiner. So, take notice of the learning that is available online, and of course, by calling the Pilot Information Center to do your “medical preflight” before you make the trip to the AME.
Earlier this year, the FAA Federal Air Surgeon, Dr. Susan Northrup, described her plans for moving the efficiency needle for the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine. Her concept, called The Three “E” Approach, includes Educate, Early Intervention, and the Evolution of Standards. Education is part of the formula that each of us can contribute to as users and applicants for medical certificates. In other words, “know before you go.”
Many pilots are familiar with a CACI (pronounced khaki, life the trousers,) Conditions AMEs Can Issue. There are now twenty-six of them, and we will no doubt see more of them in the future. These conditions include specific information called Disposition Tables that detail under what circumstances an AME can issue a medical at the time of the flight physical. CACI’s are a game changer that helps pilots get a medical at the time of examination and reduces the quite heavy workload for the FAA.
Another tool in the FAA certification toolbox is the AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) that requires an initial Authorization for Special Issuance, but can be reissued annually by the AME if you provide the AASI Authorization letter and the required records at the time of examination.
The Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners is an evolving online guide that assists aviation medical examiners in making determinations for office issuances, and is a bit more on the clinical side, but is continuously being updated and restructured as a helpful assist in more plain language format. It provides another resource to help you with that preflight medical.
Our own medical section of aopa.org also provides excellent guidance on many health related conditions as a supplement to the online AME Guide.
One of the most valuable AOPA member resources is our Pilot Information Center, the PIC, (catch the double entendre of the acronym?) The PIC team of Aviation Technical Specialists, Digital Product Support, and our medical certification team assists thousands of members each year with literally anything dealing with General Aviation flying-- aircraft ownership, lease agreements, flight training questions, FAR interpretations, airport issues, website products, and of course medical certification help all fall under the PIC umbrella and has some of the most knowledgeable specialists in our GA industry. We are a phone call away at 800 872 2672.
Keep on flying and keep on learning!
