Members Say It's Worth The Price Of Membership Alone
AOPA has provided members with
information and counsel on medical certification challenges for
many years. Members who have taken advantage of the service
consider it to be one of their most valued basic membership
benefits. Yet, as membership grows we find that new members, and
even many long time members, aren't aware that this level of
assistance is available to them as part of their $39.00 annual
dues.
The Medical Certification group offers a broad scope of services
and is responsible for an entire section of the AOPA website.
Included on the site are two databases, one that provides the
ability to search for domestic aviation medical examiners by
name, city, county, and state. The FAA allows the use of many
medications, although with some precautions or restrictions. AOPA
was one of the first web sites to offer an index of the more
commonly prescribed medications.
You can also fine detailed subject reports for many medical
conditions. The subject reports are based on the FAA's own
specification protocols, but are expanded to provide as much "plain
language" clarity and detail as possible. The medical home page
also provides updates on recent medical certification policy
changes and periodic news on happenings at the FAA Aerospace
Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City.
In 2001, AOPA launched TurboMedical, the first of a
series of AOPA interactive forms that provides members an
opportunity to complete the FAA 8500-8 medical application online
and save the completed form for future reference. TurboMedical
provides detailed explanations and instructions for each of the
first twenty items on the 8500-8. Because the program is
interactive, links are provided to subject reports or databases
pertaining to the medical condition reported. This feature provides
the user with valuable background information that allows more
accurate completion of the application.
The complexity of the FAA medical application and the relative
infrequency that pilots are required to complete the form makes
TurboMedical a great planning tool for pilots to prepare well in
advance of their next FAA airman physical examination. It reduces
the chance of errors that can lead to an unnecessary deferral and
lengthy grounding while the Aerospace Medical Certification
Division reviews the application. Incomplete documentation is one
of the most common reasons for delays in issuing medical
certificates. TurboMedical prompts the user as to what records
should be available to support any "YES" responses on the 8500-8.
AOPA has requested that the FAA allow the use of TurboMedical as an
alternative method for pilots to complete the 8500-8 on their home
computers prior to the physical examination.
One of AOPA's best medical certification assets is the Board of
Aviation Medical Advisors. This outstanding group of physicians and
aviation medical examiners meets twice a year to provide counsel
and recommendations to AOPA that assists the Association in
formulating medical certification policy. We are fortunate to have
the expertise of this group of aerospace medicine and legal
specialists to supplement the in-house medical certification
staff.
Speaking of the in house staff, AOPA has three full time medical
certification specialists. Gary Crump is the Director and has been
at AOPA for more than 16 years. His two medical certification
technical specialists, Jo Ann Wilson and Jacquie Bozarth, are the
real legs behind the department. They work directly with Dr.
Silberman's General Review and Medical Appeals staff in Oklahoma
City to help move member's medical cases, particularly those that
require a special issuance authorization, through the review
process. In 2003, they answered more than 20,000 member phone calls
and emails and helped track and expedite the issuance of almost
2,000 special issuance and general review cases for AOPA
members.
The staff works closely with the FAA
Aerospace Medicine staff in both Washington and Oklahoma City to
make certain the information provided to members is accurate and
complete. A new medication doesn't get posted to the web list until
the staff confirms its allowed status through Oklahoma City. A
change in certification policy or procedures is on the website
within hours of AOPA being made aware of the change.
One of the best remedies for dealing with medical issuance
delays is education. All pilots who face medical challenges need to
be as informed as possible about their conditions and how those
conditions will affect their certificate eligibility. The more
completely documented a case is when it goes to the aviation
medical examiner, the sooner that pilot is going to be issued a
medical certificate. Depending upon the condition, and with proper
records from the treating physician in hand at the time of
examination, the AME may be able to contact either the Regional
Flight Surgeon or the Aerospace Medical Certification Division for
authorization to issue a medical certificate rather than defer.
AOPA's staff of medical certification professionals plays a
valuable role in the civil aeromedical education process. They
often receive calls from AMEs who have procedural or policy
questions about their airmen. More than 60% of all certificated
pilots in the US are AOPA members. If you have a question and can't
get in touch with your regional flight surgeon or the Aerospace
Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City, a call to the
medical certification staff at 800 872 2672 may get the answer you
need.