The FAA has once again postponed proposed changes to the airman medical certification process that, if implemented, would lead to a significant increase in pilot medical denials.
In 2024, FAA officials proposed ending its longstanding practice of deferring incomplete medical applications to instead issuing immediate denials while providing steps for reconsideration. These changes were scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
A coalition of aviation organizations told FAA Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup that any denials could cause unintended consequences and increase complexity for applicants, according to officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). That led the proposed changes to be delayed until March 1, 2025.
On Feb. 28, the FAA announced it would again delay the implementation of the proposed denial policy and instead hold a listening session to “get feedback from stakeholders before making any decisions,” according to an FAA statement. The listening session is scheduled for April 23, 2025, at the FAA headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
FAA officials noted they will provide additional information on how to attend in person and remotely “in the coming weeks.”
“We appreciate the FAA’s efforts to seek additional input from AOPA and others,” said AOPA President and CEO Darren Pleasance. “Our goal is to help pilots by working with the FAA to make the medical certification process more efficient while eliminating unnecessary burdens on applicants. At the same time, AOPA will continue its efforts to help modernize the FAA’s medical processes and systems, which are long overdue.”
For more information: FAA.gov, AOPA.org
