FAA medical "extension" due to COVID-19

[jruhnke]

Well, technically not an extension, but the FAA will "not enforce airman medical certificates which expire between the dates of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020" due to pilots having trouble getting access to AMEs to complete their exams.

The FAA has an easy-to-read summary currently posted here (https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/), but copied below for posterity, since I expect that web page to change as conditions warrant.

The specific wording of the non-enforcement action is located at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/media/COVID-19AirmanMedicalCertificatePolicy.pdf

Medical Certification

• Important information about the impact COVID-19 on the enforcement of expiring medical certificates

Recent events regarding the COVID pandemic have led to significant access problems to Aviation Medical Examiners and other medical specialists. In response, the FAA will not enforce airman medical certificates which expire between the dates of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020. The period of non-enforcement will be in place thru June 30, 2020. The specific language for this enforcement policy was published in the Federal Register and will be available online.

If you are able, we continue to encourage airmen to accomplish their regularly required airman medical certificate exam with an FAA AME.

The Office of Aerospace Medicine will publish any updated or new, approved medical certificate alternatives and/or certificate extensions as soon as those processes are approved and available.

If you have been you have been asked to provide additional medical information and your treating physician or other clinician is unable to assist at the current time due to COVID, we can provide a one-time extension upon your request.

The specific wording of the non-enforcement action is located at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/media/COVID-19AirmanMedicalCertificatePolicy.pdf (PDF).

We continue to work with senior leadership and subject matter experts within the FAA and the Department of Transportation to craft interim medical certificate solutions during the COVID pandemic. Thank you for continuing to assist our airman.

 

[Ray93J]