FAA problem!! hELP

[airspeed]

Hi there. About 2 1/2 yrs ago I had a temporary case of vertigo. I went to the doc and he gave me some meds and it cleared up in about a month. I reported it on my 1st class and have had three first class medicals since and always reported it as it asks for any visits to health care proff. in the last three yrs. Well yesterday I got a letter from the FAA asking for documentation that my vertigo was gone and I had 30 days to respond which when I got the letter it was written 24 days ago so that really gave me six days plus they sent it to my old addy. Why would they wait almost three years to ask me for this. Do they not read what I put downj on my medical?? What should I do??

 

[Caveman]

"FAA problem" is a redundant phrase. Sorry, I know that is of absolutely no help to you. Get ahold of Pilot Medical Solutions in Oklahoma City. They specialize in helping pilots work through the FAA medical quagmire. They did an outstanding job for me. They have a website that will answer a lot of your questions. I'd give you a link but I'm computer illiterate and I don't know the address. Good luck.

 

[Caveman]

I got off my fat arse and looked it up. Their web page is:

leftseat.com

Caveman

 

[groundpointsix]

You can also call AOPA if you're a member. It sounds like it may just be a matter of calling your doctor and having him sign something saying you're cured.

 

[bobbysamd]

Medical problem

I agree with Caveman that "FAA Problem" is an oxymoron.

The FAA just needs an update letter from your doctor. Call FAA Aeromedical Certification (sorry, I didn't see a phone number on this web page) and/or the regional FAA aeromedical certification office for the state where you live. Tell them you just got the letter and that you will forward an update letter from your doctor. Maybe you can get an extension of time to provide the letter. It probably is wise to follow-up with something to them in writing documenting your conversation. Then, call your doctor and get the letter. Explain to your doctor what kind of letter you need, that this is an urgent matter and you can go to his/her office and pick up the letter.

The letter need not be a lengthy narrative. It is almost something that your doctor's medical assistant could draft and have the doctor sign, but do not tell your medical office how to do its job.

After you get the letter, fax it to the Aeromedical Certification Branch.

You might also call AOPA if you are a member and speak to a medical counselor.

www.leftseat.com is indeed an excellent FAA medical website.

Finally, it's really a very good idea to plan ahead for your medical. Call your doctor a couple of weeks ahead of your medical and ask for an update letter. Bring it to your exam. Your AME may not ask for it, but remember that you absolutely have to be loaded for bear for these events.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your efforts.

 

[WrightAvia]

You may want to think about updating your address with the FAA, while you are working your way through this....you can do it online here...

https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/amsrvs/ReqAcct.asp

 

[AA717driver]

BTDT

I got one of those letters last summer and it scared the poop out of me.

They automatically give you a 30 day extension, so don't sweat it. Call them(get the number from the FSDO or the letter, they are ok about it). I called AMAS which is set up for the major airlines, they said it's routine. FAA just got increased staffing so a lot of things that they would normally not harass the s**t out of you about, they are now able to harass the s**t out of you on...

I got the records and shipped them off and finally got a letter stating that they would allow me to keep my FC medical but if it happened again, they might revoke it... Great.

I talked to AMAS again yesterday on a different matter and mentioned my letter and the doc said it, too was standard. They will just want more documentation if I have the same proceedure again(endoscopy for GERD).TC

 

[logolight]

I had the same situation years ago when I had cancer. Everyone who posted before me is correct. I got the same letter in the mail and had to mail in a doctor's note to get it re-issued. After that, I had to bring one to the examiner everytime I went for a medical. This went on for about 5 years and then the FAA no longer asked for one.

As for the deadline, there are no penalties that I can remember. They just hold on to your certificate until they recieve your doctor's note and then in my case were pretty quick on sending my certificate back to me.

Really, don't sweat this. Just mail in the note and the FAA will send you the OK in the mail and then you're good to go.


Enjoy...

 

[VFR on Top]

Now you've got me wondering. Last summer I had a case of vertigo that freaked me out enough to go into an ER. The docs diagnosed it as likely an inner ear infection that would go away on its own in a few days, which it did. For my next medical, I'm wondering if I should list this as simply an ear infection rather than as vertigo since that seems to be a red flag as far as the FAA is concerned.

While we're on the subject of medical exams, my next one will also be my first post-35 exam; this just adds an EKG to the exam, right? Anything else?

 

[bobbysamd]

EKG

While we're on the subject of medical exams, my next one will also be my first post-35 exam; this just adds an EKG to the exam, right? Anything else?

That is correct. I don't recall anything else. You will be hooked up to an EKG that transmits to Oklahoma City.

This brings up a point. One should go to one's own medical doctor for a physical sometime before one goes to his/her AME. Your own doctor should put you through your paces in enough time to address any matters and correct them before your FAA medical. Your doctor is on your side; the AME is the FAA's industrial physician and is not looking out for your interests. Having said that, an FAA physical is really nothing compared to what your own doctor should give you.

 

[dmspilot00]

The instructions say that you can write "Previously reported, no change" on the medical application when something like this happens. You don't have to put the same thing on over and over. Maybe they thought it happened numerous times?

 

[pilotyip]

Not always Bobby

There are a numbers of AME's out here that will work with you on problems in a non-offical status, and help you throught the process, the late Doc Ross here in Detoit was one such AME. But make sure before you disclose your life history to your AME find out which side of the fence he is on.

 

[varicam]

There's a heck of a lot of FAA bashing going on, and probably some of it is justified. But, have any of you complainers ever worked under a different country's system? The US has the simplest and most user friendly airman certification system of any first-world country, yet maintains a safety record that equals or exceeds all others. That's quite an accomplishment! Try getting a medical waiver from the UK CAA if you want to know how bad it can be.

And no, I don't work for the FAA.

 

[flywithastick]

Try getting a medical waiver from the UK CAA if you want to know how bad it can be.

But I thought the way they do it in Europe (or that general vicinity) was supposed to be the way we should do things here?!

 

[JohnDoe]

Oh, I see........so because it is "so bad" everywhere else, we should just roll over and take whatever we get without complaint, comment, or attempt at improvement??




(flywithastick beat me to it.....this was directed at varicam's post)

 

[bobbysamd]

AMEs as patient advocates

There are a numbers of AME's out here that will work with you on problems in a non-offical status, and help you throught the process, the late Doc Ross here in Detoit was one such AME. But make sure before you disclose your life history to your AME find out which side of the fence he is on.

(emphasis added)

Absolutely. I see an FAA physical as being similar to Idependent Medical Examinations that occur in PI litigation and Workers' Comp. An IME is similar to getting a second opinion. My law office experience is that IMEs that the defense requests are with doctors who are well-known to give favorable reports to defendants. Yes, the term we use is "whore."

I tell any client who will attend an IME to always exhibit a positive attitude, answer only what is asked, not to volunteer information, and to be on time. This is good advice for any FAA exam, no matter how chummy you might be with your AME.

 

[varicam]

Oh, I see........so because it is "so bad" everywhere else, we should just roll over and take whatever we get without complaint, comment, or attempt at improvement??




(flywithastick beat me to it.....this was directed at varicam's post)

Oh, guess I was confused...What I understood to be bitching about the FAA were actually attempts to improve the system! (Also rolling eyes.)

 

[varicam]

But I thought the way they do it in Europe (or that general vicinity) was supposed to be the way we should do things here?!

Sure hope we don't adopt JAA's procedures and standards. I'd guess that a sizable percentage of Class 1 FAA medical certificate holders would fail to meet JAA standards. And, the FAA is like Santa Claus compared to JAA regulators when it's necessary to get a waiver.

 

[AA717driver]

VFRonTop--Repeat after me: It was just an ear infection...it was just an ear infection...it was just... Get it?

Unless, of course you would rather have a career selling shoes .TC