taf158

I recently requested and received from the FAA a copy of my medical records. It was several pages long with all my previous medical applications and a series of correspondences between myself and the FAA from my first medical where I had to explain a certain medical condition in order to receive my unrestricted 1st class medical.

Is this the same "file" airlines will receive when they ask the FAA for my records during the interview process or do they simply receive only copies of my actual medical certificates? I have an unrestricted 1st class medical and have never been denied one. The reason I ask is that I don't want them to judge me on a condition that proved not to disqualify me from an unrestricted medical but still shows up in the FAA's files. Thanks!

rickair7777

The standard PRIA info will contain nothing medically related. Anyone can search the FAA Airmen Database...that will show what medical you hold, but no details.

Some airlines will do a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get additional info beyond what PRIA covers but I'm 99.9% certain that FOIA will only get data about about checkride busts and things like that.

Medical info is Privacy Act protected, and I can't begin to imagine that any fed would give that to an airline...that's go-to-jail stuff.

The good news is that many airlines nowdays only want to see a copy of your first class medical, they won't even ask any questions as long as it's clean (no SI).

The ones that still do an a medical exam (all majors, no regionals) will pretty much only verify that you can hold a first class...if they dig any deeper, lawsuits are likely. In your case, any past history that was relevant to your medical certification might be fair game for them to ask about. But I think that as long as the FAA was OK with it, most airlines will not hold it against you. This is kind of a legal grey area but the trend has been moving towards employers accepting FAA standards.

Kikuchiyo

Not to quibble, rick, but medical information is protected by HIPA, not the Privacy Act. Though if your SSAN (or other Privacy Act protected information) is on the medical documents, then they'd also be protected by the Privacy Act, too. But I agree with you that a FOIA request would not allow for release of medical (HIPA) information on an individual.

USMCFLYR

Medical information is soooooo protected that PARENTS can't get medical information on their MINOR children without the child signing a Release of Information!

rickair7777

Well, technically speaking medical info is protected within the realm of the government by a combination of privacy act and FOIA.

PA does generally prevent the release of medical info held by the government, and the FOIA has a specific exemption to exclude the use of FOIA to obtain medical records.

HIPAA applies similar restrictions to non-government health-care organizations.

A government agency MIGHT be able to release your medical info, but they would have to delete your name, address, SSN, phone number, or any other PII. So basically not a threat to the individual, this could realistically only occur in the context of a broad statistical sampling of data. But even if the law allows it I bet government agencies have very strict policies about the too.

Kikuchiyo

I stand corrected. Good to know.

Gvdriver

I once asked for all my records ,they sent it all to me for a small fee.black background copies.With the medical records they said that they only kept the last 3 years,i dont know if thats changed as i did this in 2004.

Hrkdrivr

When I requested my medical and airman certificate records (two separate requests), they sent me copies of every medical app/cert and every airman cert app/cert I have ever had...I don't think the 3 years is correct. I think they keep everything forever.