Page 26 - Volume 15 Number 1

time to gather that information and take it to their AMEs for subsequent issuance
of a new medical
certificate prior to expiration of their previous medical certificate.
5. DO NOT take a physical exami- nation if you are not medi- cally qualified.
There are no adverse consequences with the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division (AMCD) of allowing your medical certificate to lapse. As long as you are not operating an aircraft without the appropriate class of medical certificate, the FAA AMCD is not concerned with the currency of your medical certificate. If you do take a physical and have a disqualifying condition, the AME is obligated to deny or defer your application. This can result in significant administrative delays even if your medical condition resolves while awaiting a letter from the FAA. If you have a disqualifying medical condition when your next physical is due, it is usually better to allow you medical certificate to lapse. When the condition has resolved, bring appropriate documentation from your treating physician to your physical and present it to your AME after noting the treatment on the front of the application. You may then expect to leave the office with a new medical certificate in hand.
6. Bring appropriate documentation.
If you have had medical evaluations or treatment since your last FAA physical examination, bring documentation of the treatment and the resolution of the condition to your FAA medical examination. This may help avoid any delays in issuing a new medical certificate if all aeromedically relevant questions are answered. For example, if you
24 • ­TWIN & TURBINE
have had surgery on a knee or an appendix removed or were hospitalized for an infection, the hospital discharge summary and a signed, dated follow-up note from your treating physician indicating you can return to full activity is usually sufficient. Some conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, neurologic and psychiatric conditions requiring hospitalization require additional documentation and review by the FAA. In general, the more documentation available, the easier it is to make a favorable certification decision. Again, submission of complete information to the FAA is CRITICAL to timely certification decisions.
A program instituted by the FAA in 2002, termed AME Assisted Special Issuances allows AMEs to renew Special Issuance medical certificates for all classes for 25 medical conditions designated by the FAA. Several additional condi- tions, coronary artery disease and cardiac valve replacements/ repair, are eligible for AASI for third-class certification only. To be eligible, airmen must bring specific documentation from their treating physicians with a copy of their Special Issuance Authorization letter. If the documentation reflects they have had no adverse change in their medical condition, the AME may renew the Special Issuance and submit the documentation to the FAA.
7. Bring glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids, if required.
An aviation medical examiner is not authorized to issue a new medical certificate if a pilot does not meet the standards listed in FAR Part 67 and the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners. Pilots using glasses or contact lenses should bring them to the physical examination to optimize their chances of passing those respective tests. Likewise, pilot’s using hearing aids (which are authorized during flying with a limitation on the medical certificate) should also bring them
to the exam.
8. Prepare physically for the examination.
Pilots who have a medical examination should be well rested and should avoid high-sugar meals, caffeine, tobacco and stimulant type medications before their physical examination. Meals high in sugar may cause an erroneous result in the urinalysis that raises a suspicion of diabetes. Complex carbohydrates and proteins before an examination will stabilize blood sugars and decrease the risk of an abnormal urine result in helping individuals. Fasting is not necessary, however.
For those pilots requiring electrocardiograms (first physical examination after age 35 and annually after age 40 for First Class certification), being well rested, avoiding caffeine, tobacco and stimulant medications, such as decongestants, decreases the risk of abnormalities on the ECG. Although in most cases, these abnormalities are shown to be not clinically significant, the time and expense, not to mention the anxiety, associated with obtaining the required evaluation can be avoided by simple preparation.
JANUARY 2011