Announcement To Be Made March 2

The FAA continually works with the aviation and medical communities to ensure that pilots are fit to fly. On March 2, the FAA will issue new medical guidance to Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) that incorporates industry and Congressional feedback balanced with the FAA and NTSB's safety concerns about pilots flying with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA inhibits restorative sleep. Untreated OSA always has been a disqualifying medical condition and will continue to be disqualifying. The FAA is not changing its medical standards related to OSA; however, it is revising the screening approach to help AMEs find undiagnosed and untreated OSA. The new guidance will improve safety and pilot health by reducing the burdens and disincentives that may have prevented some pilots from seeking an OSA evaluation and treatment.  Pilots will be able to continue flying while they are evaluated and as they begin treatment, if needed. Pilots diagnosed with OSA may send documentation of effective treatment to the FAA to arrange for a Special Issuance medical certificate to replace the regular issuance medical certificate.
 
Based on feedback from industry on the FAA’s draft guidance, the new guidance does not rely on BMI and allows a pilot to keep flying during evaluation and treatment. The FAA plans to publish the new guidance in the FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners on March 2, 2015.

FMI: FAA Fact Sheet with detailed information on sleep apnea in aviation