(Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
second time!)

My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
convoluted a process as I've heard?

There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
help with the process?

> Is this really as long and
>convoluted a process as I've heard?

Five years ago, it was 3-6 months for two cases I know of. The shorter
one was me. I got a friend who worked at the Dept Transportation to
call and inquire about it. A few days later I got a call from a clerk
who said that one line (drugs, I think) hadn't been filled out. I told
her "no" and the medical came through in a week or so.

If it's not in your hands in a month, why don't you call the office
(there's usually one in a nearby city) of your Congressman and whimper
a bit? Congressional staff love to make phone calls on behalf of
constitutents. It doesn't take much effort, and it makes voters happy.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put CUB in subject line)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

Call AOPA and get some advice from them.


"Kevin Young" > wrote in message
.. .
> (Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
> second time!)
>
> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
> There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
> Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
> seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
> made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
> encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
> experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
> help with the process?
>
>
>

First, go to AOPA Medical section and read all material and obtain all
available information that pertains to your situation.

Next, print out the information so you'll be able to refer to it with
your AME and in calls you'll be making.

Then contact AOPA Medical Certification Dept; 1-800-872-2672. Gary
Crump is the Director.

Be ready to state your case and any questions in a clear and logical
manner; (very much like filing IFR with Flight Service!)

Good Luck




Cub Driver > wrote in message >...
> > Is this really as long and
> >convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
> Five years ago, it was 3-6 months for two cases I know of. The shorter
> one was me. I got a friend who worked at the Dept Transportation to
> call and inquire about it. A few days later I got a call from a clerk
> who said that one line (drugs, I think) hadn't been filled out. I told
> her "no" and the medical came through in a week or so.
>
> If it's not in your hands in a month, why don't you call the office
> (there's usually one in a nearby city) of your Congressman and whimper
> a bit? Congressional staff love to make phone calls on behalf of
> constitutents. It doesn't take much effort, and it makes voters happy.
>
> all the best -- Dan Ford
> email: (put CUB in subject line)
>
> see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
> and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

Kevin Young wrote:
>
> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?

A few years ago, the typical time was running about 3 months. That went up when
the Iraq war started as two of the surgeons were called up. I saw a notice in
either AOPA Pilot or Sport Aviation a few months ago that the FAA has hired a
few new people, which is expected to reduce the delays.

> There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
> Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them.

I would say to save your money. It will take several weeks for them to process
your file. If you don't hear anything for 30 days, you can call the FAA in
Oklahoma City at 1-800-350-5286 to check the status of your medical. If you
feel you help, join AOPA; it's a much better use of your bread. They have a
medical advice department.

George Patterson
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that can be learned
no other way.

Kevin,

You would be wasting your money.
They are just going to do what you can do on your own.

Call the FAA Aero-Medical Cert Branch a few weeks after mailing the info
off to them. You can send it Express, This helps. Make sure everything
has your social security number on it or your Medical record number if
you have one.

Their number is 405-954-4821. Their address can be found on the AOPA
website or in the front of the Printed AOPA airport directory. Join AOPA
if you are not already a member. They are about more than just getting
your medical.

Michelle (speaking from experience)

Kevin Young wrote:

>(Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
>second time!)
>
>My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
>advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
>convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
>There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
>Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
>seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
>made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
>encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
>experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
>help with the process?
>
>
>
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

"Kevin Young" > wrote in message >...

> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?

I can only share with you my experience.

My first medical was deferred.

I joined AOPA and contacted their medical certification department.
They provided me with information including copies of the AME's
handbook entry regarding my condition.

Armed with this info, I roughed-out a letter which included
all of the info and test results which seemed relevant. My
physician then touched it up, altered it, signed it, and mailed
it off, accompanied by copies of a couple test results.

I got my medical with no further problems. It took about two
months.

I don't know about the time scale today. Since the first medical,
I have been able to write "no change since previous medical" on
my applications and have not been deferred again.

I have no experience with "pay for expedition" services, but my
guess is that all they can do is make sure you send the FAA the
info they're going to want and tell them the things they're going
to want to hear on the first go-around, and IME AOPA is pretty durn
good at helping with that.

Good luck,
Sydney

you need to know why it was deferred..

then call AOPA and join

BT

"Kevin Young" > wrote in message
.. .
> (Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
> second time!)
>
> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
> There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
> Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
> seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
> made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
> encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
> experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
> help with the process?
>
>
>

Mine was deferred for the first time four years ago. Luckily I had a
very experienced AME who listened to AOPA's advice and sent everything
to the regional flight surgeon who reviewed all of the supporting
documentation and issued my medical in about one month. I was given a
class 2 medical but it specifically stated that it was not good for
any class after one year.

The next two years my new AME (other one retired) sent everything to
the regional flight surgeon and it took two weeks each time for the
medical with the same restriction to one year. At that point in time
I wondered why everyone was whining about how long it takes to get a
special issuance medical. This year I learned how lucky I had been.

Saw the AME on 8/19/03 and his office really screwed up. In spite of
my directions and the letter they get from the regional AME every year
they sent all of my paperwork to Oklahoma City. As I type this over
three months later I still do not have a medical. My condition has
not changed at all in four years and I'm sure it would have only taken
the regional flight surgeon two weeks to issue again.

I understand from my weekly call to Oklahoma that my paperwork is now
with their "correspondance department". This means something is being
typed up to send to me but they won't tell me what. I am assuming it
is the letter that goes along with my special issuance medical every
year because the airmen registry was updated online last week to show
I have a current third class medical. I applied for a second class
and I can't wait to see what this is about. I don't NEED the 2nd
class. I very rarely ferry airplanes short distances (only thing I've
ever done with my commercial cert) and will have no problem not doing
that until next year but there isn't any reason why I wouldn't qualify
for a 2nd class.

I recommend starting to call Oklahoma City after two weeks and calling
them weekly after that. I also recommend calling your local
representative and having their office call. Talk to AOPA and make
sure ALL possible supporting documentation you will need is sent right
away. If it is not too late and there is any way to convince your AME
to send your application to the Regional Flight Surgeon ask them to do
that.

There is absolutely no reason at all for it to take three months to
review even 100 pages of medical records and make a decision about
whether you qualify. This is a basic regulatory function the FAA has
and they should be embarassed with how poorly it is done. Their
beuracrcy is only matched by the 1970's Soviet Union. (Do I sound too
bitter? :)

I don't want to bring you down, just want you to be prepared for the
wait and for how aggressively you may have to follow up on this.

Steve


On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 04:09:14 GMT, "Kevin Young"
> wrote:

>(Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
>second time!)
>
>My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
>advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
>convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
>There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
>Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
>seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
>made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
>encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
>experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
>help with the process?
>
>

Oops. Meant to be a response to Kevin above.

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 04:16:43 GMT, Steve
> wrote:

>Mine was deferred for the first time four years ago. Luckily I had a
>very experienced AME who listened to AOPA's advice and sent everything
>to the regional flight surgeon who reviewed all of the supporting
>documentation and issued my medical in about one month. I was given a
>class 2 medical but it specifically stated that it was not good for
>any class after one year.
>
>The next two years my new AME (other one retired) sent everything to
>the regional flight surgeon and it took two weeks each time for the
>medical with the same restriction to one year. At that point in time
>I wondered why everyone was whining about how long it takes to get a
>special issuance medical. This year I learned how lucky I had been.
>
>Saw the AME on 8/19/03 and his office really screwed up. In spite of
>my directions and the letter they get from the regional AME every year
>they sent all of my paperwork to Oklahoma City. As I type this over
>three months later I still do not have a medical. My condition has
>not changed at all in four years and I'm sure it would have only taken
>the regional flight surgeon two weeks to issue again.
>
>I understand from my weekly call to Oklahoma that my paperwork is now
>with their "correspondance department". This means something is being
>typed up to send to me but they won't tell me what. I am assuming it
>is the letter that goes along with my special issuance medical every
>year because the airmen registry was updated online last week to show
>I have a current third class medical. I applied for a second class
>and I can't wait to see what this is about. I don't NEED the 2nd
>class. I very rarely ferry airplanes short distances (only thing I've
>ever done with my commercial cert) and will have no problem not doing
>that until next year but there isn't any reason why I wouldn't qualify
>for a 2nd class.
>
>I recommend starting to call Oklahoma City after two weeks and calling
>them weekly after that. I also recommend calling your local
>representative and having their office call. Talk to AOPA and make
>sure ALL possible supporting documentation you will need is sent right
>away. If it is not too late and there is any way to convince your AME
>to send your application to the Regional Flight Surgeon ask them to do
>that.
>
>There is absolutely no reason at all for it to take three months to
>review even 100 pages of medical records and make a decision about
>whether you qualify. This is a basic regulatory function the FAA has
>and they should be embarassed with how poorly it is done. Their
>beuracrcy is only matched by the 1970's Soviet Union. (Do I sound too
>bitter? :)
>
>I don't want to bring you down, just want you to be prepared for the
>wait and for how aggressively you may have to follow up on this.
>
>Steve
>
>
>On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 04:09:14 GMT, "Kevin Young"
> wrote:
>
>>(Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
>>second time!)
>>
>>My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
>>advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
>>convoluted a process as I've heard?
>>
>>There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
>>Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
>>seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
>>made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
>>encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
>>experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
>>help with the process?
>>
>>

Thanks, Steve ( and to all who replied). I will follow up with AOPA
straight after the holidays (already have student membership).

Unfortunately I really messed up by not doing the pre-vetting of the AME's I
should have done - went to the one highly recommended by the flying school.
I think in retrospect he was recommended because he did such a quick and
perfunctory once-over that he would never have failed anyone who was still
breathing if they hadn't stubbornly insisted on being absolutely honest ...
at that point he just said "I have to defer this - the FAA will contact you
to ask for further details" and sent the form off without any supporting
documentation at all.

I did explain beforehand that I wanted to discuss my condition before taking
the medical, but his staff still got me to fill in the application form
before seeing him and I then discovered that the act of filling the form in
committed me to making my application there and then ...

Like I said, basically my fault for being so dumb. But it sounds like, from
what you say, I should get started on supporting documentation and send it
in myself without waiting for a formal request from them ... or does that
just confuse the process further?

I would recommend you start gathering up the supporting documentation
before being asked for it as long as you know what they are going to
want. That would be one reason to contact AOPA. They will be able to
tell you what supporting documentation the FAA is likely to ask for.

My basic recommendation is that you don't want to be in the position
of waiting for the FAA to do anything. Ask AOPA about this, but I
think the sooner you get the information to them, the better.
On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 16:44:03 GMT, "Kevin Young"
> wrote:

>Thanks, Steve ( and to all who replied). I will follow up with AOPA
>straight after the holidays (already have student membership).
>
>Unfortunately I really messed up by not doing the pre-vetting of the AME's I
>should have done - went to the one highly recommended by the flying school.
>I think in retrospect he was recommended because he did such a quick and
>perfunctory once-over that he would never have failed anyone who was still
>breathing if they hadn't stubbornly insisted on being absolutely honest ...
>at that point he just said "I have to defer this - the FAA will contact you
>to ask for further details" and sent the form off without any supporting
>documentation at all.
>
>I did explain beforehand that I wanted to discuss my condition before taking
>the medical, but his staff still got me to fill in the application form
>before seeing him and I then discovered that the act of filling the form in
>committed me to making my application there and then ...
>
>Like I said, basically my fault for being so dumb. But it sounds like, from
>what you say, I should get started on supporting documentation and send it
>in myself without waiting for a formal request from them ... or does that
>just confuse the process further?
>

Kevin Young wrote:
>
> But it sounds like, from
> what you say, I should get started on supporting documentation and send it
> in myself without waiting for a formal request from them ... or does that
> just confuse the process further?

That is likely to confuse the process further. At this point, you really need
to wait until they send you a request for supporting documentation. When you
reply, send them everything they ask for and anything else AOPA thinks they
might need. Add a cover letter that references the letter they sent you. Mention
the date and identifier of their letter to you, or include a copy of it (keep
the original).

Replying to their request will make it likely that the material you send gets
added to your file and considered. Sending it blind makes it likely that it will
get lost.

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

"Kevin Young" > wrote in message .. .
> (Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
> second time!)
>
> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?

It's not complicated, just slow. You could call either AOPA or the regional
flight surgeon and they will likely provide you information. I found the regional
flight surgeon's office (at least in this region) to be very helpful to pilots (even
when Joklahoma city is not).

Ron Natalie wrote:
>
> I found the regional
> flight surgeon's office (at least in this region) to be very helpful to pilots (even
> when Joklahoma city is not).

I didn't find that to be the case when mine was deferred a few years ago. Are we
in different regions?

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message ...
>
>
> Ron Natalie wrote:
> >
> > I found the regional
> > flight surgeon's office (at least in this region) to be very helpful to pilots (even
> > when Joklahoma city is not).
>
> I didn't find that to be the case when mine was deferred a few years ago. Are we
> in different regions?

Don't know...talked to someone in New York some where. They managed to decode the
symbols at the bottom of my letter so I could find out who in Oklahoma city actually handled
my paper so I could contact them directly.

I have a slightly different view from some of the other posters
regarding Virtual Flight Surgeons. I started flight training last
spring (just passed my checkride last week) and naively went into the
AME and filled out the form completely, including information about
some ten-year old sports concussions I'd had, and was stunned when the
AME told me my file would have to go to Oklahoma City. I'm an AOPA
member, and talked to their people, who were friendly and helpful,
even made a call or two on my behalf, and reported back that after a
month or so I'd get a letter from OK City, would have to respond to
that, and that in another month or so after that I'd get a response to
my response. I'm a former attorney, and had seen first hand in other
contexts the kinds of stupefying attitudes often exhibited by large
government bureaucracies, so I was freaked out at this point about my
own inexperience in this area and the potential for interminable
bureaucratic inertia with no certain outcome. I had seen Virtual
Flight Surgeons mentioned in posts here, so I gave them a call. I
talked to a sympathetic physician who said he thought they could help,
but that he estimated it would cost five or six hundred dollars. This
was important to me, and I wanted somebody in my corner on a more
dedicated basis than what AOPA can do, so I went for it. Anyway, this
gentlemen made a few phone calls to his contacts in OK City, and
within about ten days I had my medical by fax. What's more, Virtual
Flight Surgeons only wound up charging me $45 because they'd had to
put so little time into it! Great folks, in my experience.

"Kevin Young" > wrote in message >...
> (Also posted to rec.aviation.student - apologies if you're reading it a
> second time!)
>
> My class 3 medical has been deferred to the FAA. I'd be grateful for any
> advice on how to proceed and what to expect. Is this really as long and
> convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
> There are 2 companies that provide expediting services - Virtual Flight
> Surgeons and Pilot Medical Solutions ... I've contacted both of them. VFS
> seemed upbeat about my chances, PMS (hmm - that doesn't abbreviate well)
> made it sound a lot more ominous, though I'm not sure how much that was to
> encourage me to use their services. Neither are cheap. Does anyone have
> experience with either of them or have any opinion on how much they can
> help with the process?

Cub Driver > wrote in message >...
> > Is this really as long and
> >convoluted a process as I've heard?
>
> Five years ago, it was 3-6 months for two cases I know of.

from personnal experience:

a few years back, when I applied for the Class-III, for which
I needed a SODA, it took about 6 weeks for the paper work to
come back from Oklahoma city. Earlier this year in February,
I applied for a class-II upgrade, and another SODA was
required (most SODAs are valid only up to a given class of
medical, the only exception I know is the letter you get for
color vision which is valid for all classes) and upgrading
required going through the process again (no biggy, the fact
that the FAA even considered letting me fly for hire, let
alone granted it eventually, is one of those things that makes
me glad I immigrated!); this time it took over six months.

As someone else mentioned there was an article on AOPA magazine
about how some of the specialized AME in Oklahoma City happened
to be reservists, and how it affected the delays in processing
'special cases' -- A more recent article in the same magazine
seemed to indicate that things have dramatically improved
since then...

--Sylvain

"Sylvain" > wrote in message om...

> As someone else mentioned there was an article on AOPA magazine
> about how some of the specialized AME in Oklahoma City happened
> to be reservists, and how it affected the delays in processing
> 'special cases' -- A more recent article in the same magazine
> seemed to indicate that things have dramatically improved
> since then...
>
Bull****. The FAA has been running 12 week backlogs in Joklahoma city
for four years now. The only thing that has been overly mitigating is that
they have allowed AME's to issue renewals pending review in OKC rather
than deferring them.

Call Oklahoma City a lot. Frequent callers seem to get expedited, though
it's still a weeks-long process. And don't assume that once you have it, the
matter is over. Be prepared to get a letter from Oklahoma City every time
some new guy finds your file, sees you once had a problem, and demands that
you prove your case all over again. Keep a friendly relationship with an
aviation physician and keep your paperwork in order.

Kathy