The FAA on December 18 announced a two-month delay implementing a controversial new policy to deny rather than defer medical certificate applications deemed incomplete.
The decision was announced hours after House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) added his voice to the chorus seeking to stop the policy change before it took effect on January 1.
Read the updated information here:
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/december/18/graves-demands-medical-policy-delay
In the AOPA article below, the new process is explained. The article also includes a list of aviation organizations which have sent a letter to the federal air surgeon requesting that the policy be put on hold or scrapped.
Essentially, the FAA, instead of issuing a deferral to an airman applying for a medical certificate if additional information or testing is required, will be issuing a certificate denial, pending reconsideration. A denial will prevent the airman from flying under basic med or as a sport pilot using their driver’s license. And forever more, the individual will have to answer yes to the question “have you ever been denied a medical certificate?” on future medical or employment applications.
Read the full article here: