Has anyone experienced a problem getting their medical renewed due to our current situation? More importantly, does anyone know if the FAA has any plans to grant temporary extensions until we get thru this crisis?
Has anyone experienced a problem getting their medical renewed due to our current situation? More importantly, does anyone know if the FAA has any plans to grant temporary extensions until we get thru this crisis?
Dave Shaw
EAA 67180 Lifetime
Learn to Build, Build to Fly, Fly for Fun
The FAA hasn't indicated any intent to relieve any time limits to my knowledge. It is scary. Most of the providers around here have pushed back on routine visits. I'm due for a few non time-critical procedures (colonoscopy, etc...). My medical is up in June. Hopefully things will be loosened up then. My old AME is up in Virginia. I was planning to go basic med (our local doc has already done at least two, including my wife).
The FAA just released a partial answer....
The Notice states that from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020, the FAA will not take legal enforcement action against any person serving as a required pilot flight crewmember or flight engineer who holds a medical certificate that expires within this time period.
Unfortunately this does not address the GA community.
Dave Shaw
EAA 67180 Lifetime
Learn to Build, Build to Fly, Fly for Fun
Actually, it does. Note that "as a required pilot flight crewmember" means the PIC, among others.
Larry N.
I've attached the FAA letter. This is somewhat good news. It gives us until June 30. I'm a little pessimistic whether that will be sufficient.
Just got off the phone with AOPA and they concur. The phrase flight crewmember was my concern. The term implies required crew to include pilots, FEs, navigators, cargo specialist if hazardous material carried, and flight attendants if more than 9 pax. In my tortured little mind that didn’t apply to GA types. My bad.
Dave Shaw
EAA 67180 Lifetime
Learn to Build, Build to Fly, Fly for Fun
My AME retired the end of 2018 (and he was the only one I knew of in town). Most of the private practices in town have been bought out & are now owned by one or the other of the 2 major hospitals in town. The office my current doctor is in has moved all non critical appointments back to late April. My mother sees a doctor affiliated with the other hospital & they have done the same.
Dave I am in Decatur. As far as I know the guy in Monticello is still there. Right now I am not worrying about a medical as I don't have access to a plane, I will probably end up self certifying when the time comes. I might need to get a new doctor though, he wanted me to take a new BP med & I asked him if it was FAA approved & he didn't know what the FAA was. Then he acted like he thought flying a small plane was risky behavior.