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-   -   Special issuance medical timeline? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/pilot-health/96517-special-issuance-medical-timeline.html)

CaptYoda 01-12-2017 07:39 PM

Congratulations! So it does appear that 3 months is the average for processing a special issuance.
Unless you have a condition that they are just not able to issue under SI, the FAA is pretty good about getting you back flying.
The reason many don't get it is because they don't provide the FAA what is requested (or not per the FAA protocol).
For some conditions the FAA required tests can cost thousands of dollars which are out of pocket or may seem unreasonable (there are some tests that are very invasive) which is why many people just give up. But the FAA has their own justification for such tests and they will not budge.
The FAA sends a protocol letter to follow with each SI. Get the tests ahead of the deadlines and send them in so that your SI does not lapse.
As far as costs, if insurance does not pay, consider a medical vacation overseas and have them done elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.

Vertigo1960 01-22-2017 10:57 AM

This year the SIA renewal process has taken longer. Last year my renewal was 2 weeks with SIA in hand. This year, everything was submitted within the timeline. As of this writing I have not received my SIA Letter. However, all was not lost. The FAA is allowed to grant a verbal authorization for renewals to your AME as was my case. I went for my Class 1 in December, the AME called OKC and the verbal was given over the phone. AMAS (if you use them, you know) advised me during their follow-up that all my documents have been reviewed/approved----the FAA is currently drafting up my letter.

Fortunately we no longer have to carry our SIA.

I submitted all my stuff on 11/1 as directed in the previous SIA.

Vertigo1960 02-10-2017 05:22 PM

UPDATE-Timeline
 
Finally received my written SIA on 2/2. Stuff for renewal submitted was 10/1. My AME got a verbal OK to issue my Class 1 during my visit. AMAS guided me along the way.

CaptYoda 03-05-2017 12:12 AM

Is the date on your medical, the actual date of your physical exam or the date that the FAA approves the medical?

For example, you do your physical in December and it is deferred to the FAA. They finally approve it in March. Which date goes on the physical?
If the December date is on the medical then you technically have already lost 3 months of validity.

Dr1010 03-05-2017 08:53 AM


Originally Posted by CaptYoda (Post 2314099)
Is the date on your medical, the actual date of your physical exam or the date that the FAA approves the medical?



For example, you do your physical in December and it is deferred to the FAA. They finally approve it in March. Which date goes on the physical?

If the December date is on the medical then you technically have already lost 3 months of validity.



It's the date of your actual physical exam. In your example the date would be December.


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CaptYoda 03-05-2017 06:37 PM

Thanks for the information.

Slim11 03-17-2017 05:37 PM

Sadly, my review is going MUCH slower.

After the annual holiday slow-down plus the change in administrations, I received a letter saying my package was sent to an outside consultant for additional review. That was 2/2/2017. According to AMAS, the turn-around time for the consultant is 30 days and we are well past that deadline.

I think this is a case of (1) two conflicting opinions where the consultant is the "tie-breaker," or (2) proving my health and misdiagnosis is more difficult than showing recovery from a condition via medication or some medical procedure. I haven't flown since October 2015.

CaptYoda 03-17-2017 06:04 PM

I think each case has its own variance. Mine took 78 days. Hang in there.

Slim11 03-26-2017 10:48 AM

Good news...it finally happened! The approval letter for a special issuance came last week. The AMAS staff called me Tuesday and the letter arrived Thursday. From the time of the initial application for the special issuance to the approval letter was about 11 months.

CaptYoda 03-27-2017 12:43 AM

Welcome back!


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