AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 108

FLY WITH AOPA
MEDICAL LY SPEAKING /
Prepare to wait
Reasons for delays in medical certification
IF YOU HOLD a medical under special issuance,
you are probably aware of significant
delays in the issuance or reissuance of
medical certificates. Understanding what
is behind the delays won't make you feel
any better, but at least the reasons for the
delays will make sense.
The FAA Aerospace Medical
Certification Division in Oklahoma City has
historically received and processed about
385,000 medical applications annually. In
2022, that number was 415,000. The year
2023 has seen more than 430,000 applications.
If that increase in workload was
matched with an increase in the available
staff to handle the work, the impact would
be less dramatic, but that isn't the case.
Medical certification is an integral
function of the FAA's mandate for safety,
so there can't be any shortcuts. If the workload
for the available staff exceeds what can
reasonably be processed, the result is longer
than normal wait times. That's where
we are now: Line up and wait. A key factor
often is overlooked in the equation. The
FAA tries to find a way to get a favorable
decision on as many applications as possible.
To get to " yes " often requires multiple
requests for additional information records
over the course of the case review. Each
time the FAA must reach out to a pilot for
more information, delays increase.
Fortunately, a high percentage of people
who apply for a medical are issued.
It just takes time. Start the application
process even sooner than you think is
necessary and prepare for a wait if your
medical isn't issued at the time of the flight
AOPA's Pilot Protection Services knows that your pilot and medical certificates
mean everything to you. Our trusted attorneys and medical certification
specialists are here to help protect your certificates when things don't go as
planned. With an average of nearly 4,500 aviation-related legal matters and
more than 1,000 medical certification-related cases per year, we're proud to help
72,000 participating AOPA members stay in the air.
aopa.org/pps
CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?
Send us your new address and
AOPA membership number:
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
108
AOPA PILOT / January 2024
AOPA CREDIT CARD
The best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard
AIRCRAFT FINANCING
800-627-5263
finance.aopa.org
PERSONAL INSURANCE
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
PILOT PROTECTION
SERVICES
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
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. Call
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time,
with your questions.
Visit aopa.org/membership
to learn about upgrading
to our higher levels of
membership with Pilot
Protection Services coverage
included.
BY GARY CRUMP
Pilot Protection
Services
physical.
Gary Crump is the director
of medical certification for the AOPA Pilot
Information Center.
AV I AT ION F INANCE
Adam answers /
BY ADAM MEREDITH
President, AOPA Finance
Q I own a 1960 Cessna
182 with numerous avionics
and interior upgrades. Is it
possible to finance covering
the cost of an engine
overhaul? I would estimate
the value of my airplane
to be about $85,000 to
$90,000 and I'd want to
borrow about $40,000 to
$50,000.
A Yes, we would have
options for financing
upgrades. We will prepare
a valuation on the aircraft
as is and a second valuation
with the proposed
upgrade(s). You will be
able to borrow up to 85
percent of the new higher
value. Funds will be held
in escrow until completion
of the installation and then
disbursed directly to the
shop or A&P. The aircraft
will be used as collateral
and a lien will be filed at
the FAA.
aopafinance.org

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

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024