AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022 - 109

TIPS FROM PIC
Chain of
custody
BY GARY CRUMP
THE FAA MEDICAL certification process
can be labor intensive, frustrating,
and time consuming, especially now
during times when the FAA is seriously
behind in processing applications for
medical certificates. There are a few
hacks for dealing with the bureaucracy,
and one of the most important
ones involves getting medical information
to the FAA in response to a letter
requesting " additional information. "
The FAA medical certification system
currently does not allow medical
records to be sent electronically. When
the FAA asks for something, the records
must be mailed to the Aerospace
Medical Certification Division in
Oklahoma City. That facility receives
thousands of pieces of mail every week,
and the process of scanning the paper
records into digital format is just one of
the numerous choke points in the medical
review process.
If you receive a letter requesting
medical records, we strongly suggest
that you take responsibility for mailing
the information to the FAA. Don't rely
on anyone else to send the records. If
your AME agrees to send the records
for you, in our experience that often
does not happen, and the reports
end up in the AME's office file. Send
them first class or overnight mail with
return receipt. Include your name and
date of birth or, if you have an assigned
PI# from previous FAA correspondence,
add that number to every page
you are sending.
The response time from the FAA is
now running 90 to 120 days or longer,
so expect delays in hearing back after
you send something in. And be sure to
retain copies of everything you send in
just in case the records get " diverted "
somewhere in the review process. The
FAA is working on the backlog, but it
will take a while for the agency to get
caught up. Gary Crump is AOPA
director of medical certification.
Flightline/ AVIATION'S
JET WARBIRD
TRAINING CENTER
* Complete Training for L-39, MIG 15/17,
T-33, FOUGA & L-29
* Our 25th year of accident-free training
* Corporate jet upset training
* Examiner on staff
WEBSITE: WWW.JETWARBIRD.COM
EMAIL: LARRY@JETWARBIRD.COM
PHONE: (505) 471-4151
YOUR BALLS
Saved My Life
St. Louis pilot John Mozley reports
Make Your
Airport or
Heliport Safe With
TANA WIRE MARKERS
Aviation safety ORANGE BALLS, made of superior
durable materials, can withstand hail, and meets
FAA Military and Power Co. specifications. Universal
attaching device quickly installs on all wires. 9, 12,
20, 24, 30, and 36 inch balls.
Phone: 573-796-3812
Fax:
TANA WIRE MARKERS
P.O. Box 370 - California, MO 65018
www.tanawiremarker.com
Minutes from Cincinnati
573-796-3770
MARKETPLACE
SANDY'S AIRPARK
@ SPORTY'S
(800) 908-4359 * www.sandysairpark.com
Clermont County/Sporty's Airport (I69)
AOPA Pilot Sandy's airpark classified 5_18.indd 1
5/3/18 12:20 PM
AOPA PILOT / December 2022
109
All Prices
Reduced 25%
http://WWW.JETWARBIRD.COM http://schweissdoors.com http://www.tanawiremarker.com http://www.sandysairpark.com http://arizonatech.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022
