Aviation Blog

April 24, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical and VA Disability Reconciliation

Do you have questions about your FAA medical and VA disability reconciliation? The FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine has started sending military veterans who are receiving VA disability benefits, letters offering “reconciliation” of potentially false answers to Form 8500-8, application for airman medical certificate. Essentially, these “reconciliation letters” are offering airmen who meet certain, unidentified […]

April 15, 2023 | Pilot Law

Comments on Reddit About FAA Medical

There are a lot of comments on Reddit about FAA medical certification. Thanks to the internet, you have better access to the unsolicited opinions and experiences of your fellow aviators. As an example, you are reading this article – another unsolicited opinion. What is unfortunate, however, is when an airman judges his or her situation […]

April 13, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Denial for “Substance Abuse”

Trying to understand your FAA medical denial for “substance abuse?” It is important to know that the standard for “substance abuse,” as that term is defined by the FAA, is different than the standard utilized in clinical, “real world” medicine. In other words, your regular doctor or psychiatrist may find that you do not have […]

April 12, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Certificate with Colitis

You can be issued a FAA medical certificate with colitis if you meet the FAA’s “CACI” requirements. “CACI” stands for Conditions AMEs Can Issue. Essentially, with certain “CACI” conditions, such as colitis, the FAA will allow your Aviation Medical Examiner (“AME”) to issue you a medical certificate if documentation from your treating physician establishes that […]

April 11, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical with Two DUIs

Are you attempting to obtain a FAA medical with two DUIs? If you have been arrested for DUI, you will need to report your arrest(s) at question 18v. on your application for FAA medical certificate. Even if you were not convicted of DUI, but arrested for DUI, you will still need to report the arrest(s) on […]

April 10, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Certificate with Pre-Diabetes

It is possible to obtain a FAA medical certificate with pre-diabetes. The good news is that if you have appropriate documentation in place prior to submitting your FAA medical application, your Aviation Medical Examiner (“AME”) does not have to defer your medical application to the FAA for further review. Instead, pre-diabetes is a condition that […]

April 9, 2023 | Pilot Law

Reconsideration of a FAA Medical Denial

Are you requesting reconsideration of a FAA medical denial? If you have been denied for a condition which is not a “specifically disqualifying” condition, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) will offer an applicant an opportunity to request reconsideration of a FAA medical denial by the Federal Air Surgeon. A “specifically disqualifying” condition is a condition […]

March 11, 2023 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical with a Possession Conviction

Can you get a FAA medical with a possession conviction on your record? It is possible to get a FAA medical with a possession conviction on your record. Of course, every situation is different; however, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor charge of “possession of paraphernalia” or “possession of marijuana” or the like, the […]

December 29, 2022 | Pilot Law

Assessment for Sleep Apnea During Your FAA Medical

Did you know that your AME conducts an assessment for sleep apnea during your FAA medical examination? In 2015, the FAA made it a requirement that your Aviation Medical Examiner (“AME”) conduct a risk assessment for obstructive sleep apnea (“sleep apnea”) on every airman being examined for FAA medical certification. The FAA encourages AMEs to […]

December 27, 2022 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Certificate with Sleep Apnea

Is it possible to get a FAA medical certificate with sleep apnea? Yes! It is possible to be issued a FAA medical certificate with obstructive sleep apnea (“sleep apnea”), but you will also need to be granted a special issuance authorization. A special issuance authorization can be better understood as a “waiver.” When an airman […]