The EAA Aeromedical Advisory Council (AAC) advises the FAA to focus its resources on the large backlog of special issuance cases instead of conducting a proposed survey to see if airmen are satisfied with the quality of service they receive from the Aerospace Medical Certification Division (AMCD). In official comments submitted this week regarding the proposed survey, the AAC says that the single issue affecting airman satisfaction with aeromedical services is the backlog--estimated from 100,000 to 140,000--of airman applications awaiting an aeromedical decision.

Consequences of such a backlog are pervasive: The weight of the problem on the entire certification system is enormous. And the effect on those kept waiting can be profound.

For example, aviators may risk losing their jobs while awaiting an aeromedical decision. For an older-aged pilot looking to obtain new employment within aviation, a certification delay can have serious career consequences. Moreover, loss of experienced and capable aviators in itself can affect aviation safety.

AAC says conducting a quality service survey is misguided “since airmen themselves have little or no direct contact with AMCD throughout their aviation careers, unless they encounter medical conditions that jeopardize eligibility for medical certification.”

Even then, such contact is limited to written and telephone communication as they attempt to determine their application’s status.

Factors causing the backlog include early retirement options/loss of key experienced personnel; hiring freezes; budget cuts; expanding the range of special issuance conditions (e.g. insulin dependent diabetes), and delayed implementation of technological advances.

It adds up to a loss of experienced and capable aviators, which in itself can affect aviation safety. 

FMI: www.eaa.org