The FAA has backtracked on a policy change regarding medial denials and deferrals after facing backlash from the industry. Five days after receiving a letter from 14 pilot organizations, the agency says it has deferred implementation of the policy pending further consultation. The new policy would have resulted in medical deferrals sent to the agency without all necessary documentation becoming denials that would be reversed if the paperwork was properly filed. The groups were concerned about various unintended consequences of the policy, which was to be put in place Jan. 1. Here's the FAA's full statement.
You would think they might float the proposal by the 14 Special interest groups that found issues with the pending ruling. Oh ya its FAA, to their credit at least they listened to the objections……. but we have wasted a lot of time otherwise better spent.
My day job isn’t flying rather project and program management. I also mentor less experienced folks in how to do this properly. You know what the first lesson is? Stakeholder engagement.
This is so ridiculous. It’s not bad enough that an actual medical condition can sideline my career, but now incomplete paperwork has just as much jeopardy. I would have had a deferral on my own record under these new rules, since I once showed up for a 1st Class medical after recovering from shoulder surgery. I didn’t realize I needed a letter from my doctor explicitly indicating I could return to work. Oops. So I ran back to his office, got the letter, then returned to my AME. Simple, yet now that scenario would be listed as a deferral on my record forever.