AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021 - 108

NEWS & NOTES MEMBER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
MEDICALLY SPEAKING |
The three Ps
Preparation, procedure,
patience for your medical
THE FAA COMMUNICATES primarily in writing,
and letters to airmen are sometimes not
as clear as they could be. Efforts are underway
to improve the tone and clarity of many
of those letters that ask for more information.
The best way to read an FAA letter is
to reread it, probably several times. And
remember the three Ps:
Preparation. Pilots plan each flight,
be it a short hop to the airport for a good
pancake breakfast or a long cross-country
with multiple stops. The same should apply
to preparing to engage the FAA. AOPA.org
has many resources on medications, medical
conditions, and records the FAA will
need and how to send them.
Procedure. Get all your testing and
treatment records together beforehand
and have them with you when you go to
see the medical examiner. Your application
is still deferred, but you already know
what they want and have all testing completed.
You then mail your records to the
FAA, and they are scanned into your medical
file, matched up with your recently
completed MedXPress application, and
processed into workflow for review by a
legal instruments examiner and/or staff
physician.
CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?
Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org
AOPA FOUNDATION
800-955-9115
aopafoundation.org
AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE
800-638-3101
airsafetyinstitute.org
AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM
Top off your airplane and wallet
with the best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard
AOPA AIRCRAFT FINANCING
800-627-5263
aopafinance.org
AOPA PERSONAL INSURANCE
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
AOPA PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
AOPA TRAVEL DISCOUNTS
aopa.org/cars | aopa.org/hotels
AOPA PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS
Do you have questions or need information about an aviation topic? Access the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center
during our convenient weekday hours. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time, with
your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
Visit the website (aopa.org/membership) to learn about upgrading to our higher levels of membership with Pilot Protection Services
coverage included.
108 | AOPA PILOT July 2021
BY GARY CRUMP
Pilot Protection
Services
AVIATION FINANCE |
ADAM ANSWERS
BY ADAM MEREDITH
PRESIDENT, AOPA FINANCE
Finally, patience! The FAA is working
hard to get caught up and stay caught up,
but it is a daunting task. The FAA is working
to improve the overall customer experience.
Many of you have received an email request
to participate in a satisfaction survey from
the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine. So,
I'm adding a fourth P: Please respond to the
survey. It is in everyone's interest to help
the FAA improve the medical certification
process and knowing the candid feelings of
pilots will help the FAA make those needed
improvements.
aopa.org/pps
GARY CRUMP is the director of medical
certification in the AOPA Pilot Information
Center.
Q: What determines the length of a
loan, say between 15 and 20 years?
I'm looking at a 1997 aircraft to
finance $45,000. What term might
I expect to get?
A: Generally, the amount financed,
usage, and age are what limits the
length of term. In this case, age
is not the issue. However, a loan
amount at $45,000 would likely limit
you to 15 years because after three
years on this amortization schedule
you will have only paid the loan by
less than $4,000. This doesn't leave
much room for surprise expenses
such as an engine overhaul, and
therefore benefits neither the owner
nor the lender.
aopafinance.org
800-62-PLANE (75263)
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association will
be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at the headquarters of AOPA, 421
Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on the Frederick Municipal Airport
(FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as
may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of trustees.
If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy, please visit
aopa.org/myaccount or call 1-800-872-2672. -Justine A. Harrison, Secretary

http://www.AOPA.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopafinance.org http://www.aopa.org/myaccount http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopafinance.org http://www.aopa.org/membership/personal http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/hotels http://www.aopa.org/membership

AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021