FAA Delays Medical Certification Revisions Following Industry Resistance
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has postponed controversial changes to its medical certification process following significant opposition from pilots and aviation organizations. The policy, originally set to take effect January 1, 2025, and later delayed to March 1, has now been postponed indefinitely pending further stakeholder consultation.
Under the proposed changes, pilots with incomplete medical applications would receive immediate denial letters instead of the current deferral system with requests for additional information. This shift would have prevented pilots from exercising BasicMed or Sport Pilot privileges while their applications were being processed, potentially grounding aviators for extended periods during the review process.
A coalition of 14 aviation organizations, including AOPA and NBAA, voiced concerns that the new process would create unnecessary confusion and unintended consequences for pilots. The FAA stated that postponing the implementation “allows the FAA additional time to educate the pilot community and to host a listening session with various aviation associations.” The agency emphasized that the change was driven by its interpretation of Section 801 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, aimed at providing more timely responses to medical certificate applications.
- Key Points:
- FAA postpones changes to medical certification process
- New policy could ground pilots with incomplete applications
- 14 aviation organizations express concerns over new process
- FAA cites need for further education and consultation