Hi, I've been lurking for a while. I haven't had much to contribute; but appreciate all of your all's information. I'd be grateful for some guidance.....in the United Airlines application addendum there is a question asking if an applicant's medical has ever been lost or suspended. Mine was deferred due to a stent placement which was resolved. Is that the same as "lost" or "suspended"? Does anybody have sound advice as to how this should be answered? Thank you much in advance!

My interpretation would be this:

Case #1: You have your medical and then you have a heart attack, or go blind, or something. In that case you would LOSE your medical.

Case #2: You get a DUI. Your medical is revoked/suspended pending treatment or whatever therapy they want. Or you develop cancer...your medical is suspended pending treatment and/or getting yourself healthy. The FAA informs you your medical is SUSPENDED.

Case #3: You apply for a medical with a situation such as yours that the AME cannot alone decide. A deferral is usually issued instead of a denial or approval. The AME either needs more information or needs to forward the specifics of your case up the chain at the FAA for the board decision on whether to grant you a certificate, grant it through Special Issuance, deny it, or request more information or tests. I believe the deferral is good for a finite time period - if the required information isn't satisfactorily presented to the FAA in that period, they can deny the application.

That's my understanding. Check with AOPA or your AME.

Other questions to ask yourself:

1. Has there been a point in your career where you had been flying and then, because of a medical condition (or DUI), the FAA said you no longer could fly? This would be due to a LOST or SUSPENDED medical.

2. How have you been answering the question on the FAA Medical Application where it asks "Has your FAA Medical Certificate ever been denied, suspended, or revoked?"

Those questions should help guide you.

Good luck!

nope ... no problem for you here

Deferral is not much of an issue as long as the medical was not subsequently denied.
I have been deferred, and it worked out. Airlines don't care if you were deferred as long as you have the medical. I believe the United question did not ask if deferred.