Tips for speeding up review process
 

The problem I am running into is the unbelievable slowness in the FAA processing the info I send in.
I have sent the complete records I have around treatment for illness etc. All the requisite info requests (PI# attached, additional info requests, etc) complied with on my part.
To sum up my experience:
FAA takes three weeks to scan in mail received snail mail.
1+ week to scan in docs received via fax.
Once scanned into the system, it then takes another few weeks to get reviewed (this part I don't have a problem with).
You'd think a day or two to get scanned into the system would be reasonable. 1-3 weeks to get input into the system seems pretty pathetic.
Anyone have some guidance on how to avoid this delay inputting info?

I will share this what I know about getting things done quicker:
1. Always maintain a complete and accurate set of records for yourself. (It takes additional weeks time to get records from a hospital if you don't have them).
2. Always attach a PI # to your correspondence.
3. Follow up consistently (weekly phone calls) to ensure your case is being advanced.
4. Fax the info to FAA. (Mail requires an extra week to go through some kind of security process).
5. The fax numbers are: Fax: 405-954-4300
4040
3345

Hopefully, you will have better success than I!

I take it you have never had to supervise civil service personnel? It's an eye opening experience, I assure you.

I am a violent opponent of unions for any government employees now.
Easier to just have uniformed people do whatever needs to be done (in addition to everything else they have to do) than try to squeeze blood from the GS stone. I can't imagine how any part of the government which does not have uniformed staff can even begin to function. Oh wait...

I feel your pain, two years ago I had a stroke and now dealing with the FAA special issuance process. First the FAA has a mandatory 2 year waiting period for any type of stroke, no matter how small, unless a cause was found and treated (Good luck at that out). Mine was very minor and I was back to 100% within about 3 months. All my doctors came to the conclusion that it was caused by a small piece of plaque that broke loose some where in my body and clogged a very small blood vessel in my brain. They said that if was just an unfortunate accident and that it would probably never happen again. I was given TPA in the emergency room when it happen and the blockage was cleared within 45 minutes of onset. I have been place on meds to control high blood pressure and diabetes which they believe was a under lying cause of it all. My AME and I did additional testing at the one year, actually by the time I was able to get into the neurologist it was about 1 year 4 months. We got all the paperwork and tests together and sent it in at about 1 3/4 years mark. About 2 months later the FAA sent me a letter stating that I would be eligible for review at the 2 year mark and I needed to have a new MRI done along with some other information from my doctors. So I contacted my neurologist, who ordered another MRI, even though the last one was not even six months old, even he said that this was a lot of unnecessary expense for unneeded tests. I also had to send in additional information from my private physician, that he had already provided for them just a few months before, fortunately he is also a AME and knows how thing work. Hopefully I'm on the final leg now, all the requested paperwork went in by mail about two weeks ago, because I had to send CDs of my three MRIs. But what can you do, if you want to fly again, you have to play by their rules. Good luck to you also, sounds like you are on the final approach to CAMI also.

Glad to hear you are back on track... Oi! Best of luck getting back on the air again...
Yeah, I am just blown away that it takes so long scan something into the system. Something that would take 1-2 minutes takes 1-3 weeks to get accomplished.
Just wondering if anyone knew of a way to get around that kind of bs. For example, would it help to obtain the assistance of a service like Airdocs (or other AME who specializes in dealing with the FAA)? Anyone

In case you are a member of AOPA, their FAA Medical Department can be VERY helpful. My SI case was simple, I just needed to supply CPAP data. After FAA received it, I waited a couple of weeks. Then I sought AOPA's help. I had my 3rd class medical (not yet a pro pilot) in less than a week. AOPA told me that they typically are able to get even faster response for class 1/2 cases. Hope the same method could shorten your processing time. I was VERY grateful to Marianne at AOPA.

DITTO on AOPA.

Sign up, I think about $80/yr (?), get a free hat and a monthly magazine and get IMMEDIATE help from their Aero-Medical folks.

They are very good at correcting and expediting FAA mistakes and bureaucratic B.S.

Good Luck.

STK

I used to email a contact person at AMCD to get paperwork in immediately. Fax machines and I don’t like each other, and the email approach was always free.

Anything on a CD, though, had to be sent via snail mail, unfortunately.

And rpatte1637, yep was in a similar boat myself. Had a Grade I subarachnoid hemorrhage/brain aneurysm 5 years ago and it was looking like I’d get certified at the 1 year mark. I was as ‘good as new’ after only
About 6-7 weeks and was back to doing everything I was doing normally (except flying and getting paid).

The FAA neurology consultant who reviewed my case said that he identified a small frontal lobe infarct that was secondary to the bleed itself, and even though there was no mention of a ‘stroke’ anywhere in the narratives/reports he considered this a form of stroke.

Boom, an expected 1 year wait became a 2 year wait (2.3 years, really since I could not even begin the required follow up testing till the date of my 2 year anniversary).

If you run into anymore problems with this, I’d get in touch with Dr. Bruce. I started off with AMAS/ALPA Arromedical, but turned to Dr. Bruce after the 1 year denial. I was blown away by just how much he knows about AMCD and the outside consultants they use. In fact, I’d recommend he be the first point of contact for anyone with a brain or heart (the organs that can ‘really’ ground you a painfully long time) problem.

This sounds good to me! I will give it a try. I appreciate the tip...

Calling your congressman is another avenue that has worked for some folks on the past...