A change in FAA medical policy occurred today

[gpinnell]

A significant change in FAA medical policy occurred today as the Federal Air Surgeon published new policy on Certificates an AME can issue or "CACI". This change in policy allows AME's to issue medicals for specific diagnosis without the usual Special Issuance required by the FAA. The diagnosis are Arthritis, Asthma, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C - Chronic, Hypertension, Hypothyroidism, Migraine and Chronic Headache, Pre-Diabetes, and Renal Cancer. Certain medical documentation is required to issue the medical but it does not have to be sent in to the FAA. The medical is good for the normal duration of the certificate depending on the class. More medical conditions are expected to be placed in the CACI program as information is released by the FAA.

Greg Pinnell, MD EAA Aeromedical Council
www.airdocs.net

[Joe LaMantia]

Greg,

Sounds like their moving to get rid of some "belt and suspender" policies by pushing documentation down to the AME's who actually know people applying for the certificate. This is a welcome improvement andy maybe something driven by the budget cuts. Thanks for the update!

Joe

[MEdwards]

Dr. Greg,

Thanks for this info. My controlled-with-meds hypertension has always been handled without an SI, but with required data submissions specified in a letter from the FAA after each physical. So what is different now?

The answer might be where you said "but it does not have to be sent in to the FAA." Is that right? That would be good.

Mike E

[Jim Hann]

Dr. Pinnell,

I am glad to hear that the FAA is allowing our AMEs to use their judgement and evaluate these conditions! Thanks to everybody involved in making this happen!

Jim
ATP/CFI

[gpinnell]

MEdwards: Believe it or not hypertension really was a "quasi special issuance" in that documentation was required and a PI number was issued similar to other special issuances. Yes, the documentation is still required but it does not have to be sent to the FAA and if they follow their plan they will send out no letters if we document the medical correctly. I just issued my first medical for an initial hypothyroidism case under this program this evening. It felt good not to have to call in for a new authorization tomorrow. One less phone call!

[gpinnell]

Join us tonight for a Webinar on the new FAA policy to relax medical certificate standards for certain diagnosis. The URL is https://www2.gotomeeting.com/pjoin/280990986/105342043