An FAA medical denial can leave you uncertain about your career, your training, or your next flight. You may still have options. Understanding why you were denied and which process applies is the first step toward addressing the decision.
At The Ison Law Firm, our FAA medical attorneys help pilots with medical certification issues, including denials, requests for additional information, reconsideration, special issuance, and NTSB appeals. Our attorneys are also pilots, bringing an understanding of aviation to the legal questions affecting your ability to fly. We represent airmen nationwide.
Request a consultation or call 855-322-1215.
Denied or Deferred After Your FAA Medical Exam? Understanding the FAA Medical Process
A deferral and a denial have different meanings. When an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) defers your application, the examiner sends it to the FAA for a certification decision. The FAA may need additional records or evaluations before completing its review.
Although an AME can deny an application, an AME’s denial is not a final FAA denial. Depending on who issued the decision and the reason given, your next step may involve reconsideration within the FAA or an appeal to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
We can review your letter, identify the stage of the process, and explain which options may apply to your case.
What to Do After a Denied Medical FAA Certificate
Read the Decision and Identify the Deadline
Keep the denial letter, its envelope, and any related correspondence. Note when you received it and the regulations cited. Different decisions carry different deadlines, so seek professional help promptly rather than assuming every denial follows the same appeal process.
Gather Your Medical Records and Correspondence
Collect your medical application, relevant treatment records, test results, medication history, and previous FAA letters. Include any forms or reports already submitted. A complete record helps your attorney identify what the agency considered and what information may still be needed.
Discuss the Appropriate Response With an Attorney
Before sending another submission, understand what it needs to accomplish. Your response may need to address missing information, challenge a finding, or support special issuance consideration. We help you connect the evidence to the specific issue affecting your eligibility.
Requesting Reconsideration of a Medical Denial
Reconsideration gives applicants an opportunity to ask the FAA to review a denial. For an AME denial, the request may be made in writing within 30 days after the date of denial under 14 C.F.R. § 67.409.
Further review depends on the decision’s basis and who issued it. Certain FAA denials involving specifically disqualifying conditions may be appealed directly to the NTSB; other decisions require review by the Federal Air Surgeon first.
Our FAA medical attorneys can examine the stated reason, identify relevant supporting evidence, and prepare a response addressing the applicable standards. We also help you understand the next stage if reconsideration does not resolve the matter.
FAA Special Issuance Authorization
A medical condition that prevents standard certification, such as a prior heart attack and related coronary artery disease, does not necessarily end your options. Under 14 C.F.R. § 67.401, the Federal Air Surgeon may authorize special issuance when an applicant demonstrates that they can safely perform the duties associated with the requested certificate.
The authorization is discretionary and valid for a specified period. It may involve additional medical evaluations, testing, or ongoing documentation, particularly for conditions such as recovery after an FAA-disqualifying stroke. A treating physician’s assessment can support the process, but the FAA determines eligibility.
We help pilots understand the legal requirements, organize supporting records, and work with appropriate medical professionals to address the FAA’s concerns. Our role is to present your circumstances clearly and support your request with relevant evidence.
Appealing a Medical Certificate Denial to the NTSB
For an appealable FAA denial, a petition for review generally must be filed with the NTSB within 60 days after the date of the denial. This is a separate deadline from the FAA reconsideration period.
An NTSB medical appeal addresses whether you meet the standards for an unrestricted medical certificate. The Board does not have authority to grant a discretionary special issuance authorization.
Our attorneys can assess whether an appeal is appropriate, prepare the petition, and develop the medical evidence and legal arguments for your case. If the matter proceeds to a hearing, we can represent you before an administrative law judge.
How Our FAA Medical Attorneys Help
The FAA medical process involves both medical evidence and legal requirements. You should understand what is being requested, why it matters, and how your response supports your case.
Our representation may include support for conditions such as FAA medical certification with chronic insomnia and other ongoing health issues, and may involve:
- Gathering records and documents responsive to the FAA’s requests.
- Reviewing the decision and applicable deadlines.
- Assessing reconsideration, special issuance, and appeal options.
- Identifying gaps in supporting documentation.
- Coordinating with your AME and treating professionals.
- Preparing submissions and responding to agency correspondence.
- Representing you in an NTSB medical appeal.
We explain the available options and the issues each may address, so you can make informed decisions about pursuing certification.
FAA Medical Denial Questions
Does a Denial Mean I Can Never Receive a Medical Certificate?
Not necessarily. Depending on your circumstances, reconsideration, an appeal, or special issuance may remain available. The FAA expressly recognizes that some applicants denied standard certification may qualify through special issuance, including individuals seeking FAA medical certification with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Is Anxiety Automatically Disqualifying?
No. FAA guidance allows certification for some anxiety histories when specified criteria are met. Your diagnosis, treatment, medication use, and medical history affect the evaluation. An individualized review is more useful than assuming that every anxiety diagnosis leads to denial.
What Should I Have Ready for a Consultation?
Have your FAA correspondence, relevant dates, and a summary of your medical certification history available. Tell us about any approaching deadline. We can discuss which additional records would help us evaluate your situation.
Speak With an FAA Medical Attorney
Whether you are responding to an FAA medical denial or evaluating special issuance, The Ison Law Firm’s FAA medical lawyers can help you understand your options and the steps involved.
Contact our aviation attorneys for a consultation, or call 855-322-1215.
