That was not the case I almost got caught in. It was not something that would disqualify you but would have required additional testing to confirm the issue is within limits and submission to the FAA. This could be 4-8 weeks until he FAA decides. Again, this was only something discovered on my medical which I had no previous knowledge of. As our PTO will not cover this, I would have been on unpaid leave until the FAA ruled due to the hold starus.

 

You go to the AME...he defers issuance. You no longer have a valid medical. Use sick bank to cover waiting period for STD to begin. If your medical isn't issued prior to STD ending and LTD starting, then you transition to LTD.

There is no functional difference between a deferred medical and a denied medical for the purpose of benefits.

 

To clarify for the readers you mean your NetJets union stated this, correct?

I have been out on medical leave since February jumping through required procedures and waiting for the FAA. My LOL and LTD is in full effect. I have never been questioned by the company regarding a “medical hold” nor have I ever heard that term in any of my interactions with my AME (who serves on an FAA Cardiology board).

Since I now am going to be in a special issuance scenario (resolvable), my subsequent medical application has been “deferred” pending FAA review (after I did the required procedures per the FAA).

If you are “denied” a medical, it’s either game over for you or you go through the protocol for special issuance to get it back. This is why we have Loss of License and Short Term and Long Term Disability. Not really sure where the “medical hold” terminology comes from—I’ve never received any notice from the FAA with this statement. The only thing I’ve gotten from the Feds is a letter stating my medical records have been requested by the LTD people.

 

If you Google FAA medical hold, Google AI will tell you about it. Maybe it is covered for your group. Unfortunately our PTO days will not cover a FAA medical hold because FMLA soes not allow for this and as your medical has not been denied, our Loss of Medical Plan will not cover you. Out Short term disability plan does not either as you are not disabled. It is a quagmire. We have had pilots caught in this for 4-8 weeks as they wait on the FAA to authorize your medical, give you a special issuance, or outright deny your medica.. It would be better to just have your medical denied by your AME as you would then trigger our Loss of Medical plan as you work on getting ema medical back.

 

I think we’re all still trying to figure out the reason for this post?

 

The reason I asked only was I was curious if it was covered under your plan. Our union tends to compare our pay/benefits to yours. This is an issue that has come to light recently as the FAA is doing more medical Holds versus outright denials. In fact, our PAC that works with yours was instrumental to get the FAA to change the outright denial for anything that is not right on a medical, to include improper paperwork. So it is a good thing except for us as our Loss of Medical program only covers outright denials and not Holds and we are unable to use PTO days. However, it has been a continuous issue for us as it is quite a shock to all of a sudden to go on unpaid leave when on a hold and untol our union published this, very few people knew about this until it happened to them. Our union's benefit committee chair agrees it stinks and we are trying to get it changed, but he added that it is not unheard of in out industry and made mention that Southwest Airlines hnow has the same policy. I was shocked if this was true and was only asking. He could very well be wrong, I don't know any better. Not knowing anyone at SWA, I thought I would ask. He said SWAPA sent out a notice earlier this year about this policy which is why I asked. Nothing nefarious, I was just curious.

 

For airlines, I have never heard of any quibbling as to what exactly constitutes "loss of medical"... if the FAA doesn't give you a medical after you duly and properly apply, you get sick/STD/LTD.

 

The only thing SWAPA sent out was about the proposed increase in mandatory deferrals (holds? I don't know) and then the FAA backtracking on it and keeping it as is. I would recommend you call our benefits folks. They will be able to tell you a real answer. Clearly nobody here has had a hold put on their medical. The way our contract reads, you won't get loss of license unless your medical is denied or the insurer agrees it would be denied. Not sure how that plays into this scenario. Unpaid leave isn't a thing here unless you are dumb enough (or unlucky enough) to operate on zero sick bank, which a few pilots do.

 

The short answer is SW disability or whatever program you want to use kicks in if you no longer have a current valid medical. Doesn't matter why. If you can't fly for a medical reason you get paid by the benefits.

 

At Delta you have up to 60days of "FAA Leave" for after you apply for medical after a denial or event and the FAA is taking their time answering. These days don't count as sick leave. If after those 60days the FAA is still dragging their feet with an answer you go back on ST/LT disability.