I am looking forward to attending flight school with ATP, but have hit one tiny snag. My First Class Medical exam was at the end of October, and I was deferred to the FAA because I was finishing up on weight loss medication. My AME told me that if I stopped the disqualifying medication (I’ve been doing great and was about to stop this month anyway), I would need a letter from my doctor saying I was off the medication and no longer needed it.
I was able to accomplish all of this within a week of my AME exam and I have the clearance letter from my doctor in hand. This is literally all I need in order to pass the First Class Medical, but now I know I am stuck (potentially for months) waiting on the FAA to send me a letter. If I contact them and/or fax them the letter with my applicant ID, could this potentially help me out or would it have no effect? After reading other posts regarding AME exams, I can see that everyone’s situation is different, so that’s why I created this topic. Thanks in advance to anyone who feels like responding!
P.S. On another note, when I log into my MedXpress account, my application is no longer there. It just asks me if I want to start a new application. Not sure if this is normal, but I figured I’d throw it out there.
Your application is no longer there because it’s been completed by the AME and is no longer in the “application phase”. Totally normal.
As for the rest the FAA is notoriously slow when it comes to these things and the pandemic has only exacerbated the situation. You’re free to contact them as you like but in all likelihood you’re not going to get a response any faster.
I just submitted medical information to the FAA related to a retinal tear that I had. I was told to expect 10-12 weeks for a response, there is no way that I know of to speed this up. We are in the same boat here.
Thank you for the quick response! I’ll be patient for now. In the meantime, I guess I could start going over book stuff for ground school to be ahead of the game.
My appointment with the AME was on October 2, 2020 and I received a letter from the FAA on Friday, December 4, 2020. So, it took 9 weeks in total. I called the FAA every 2 weeks for an update; I don’t think that helped in any way, but they are always very kind and willing to answer questions.
Hope this helps. Can’t answer much as I am at the beginning of the process, but let me know if you have another question.
I just wanted to give you an update about my case with the FAA (which I hope can help other people in the same situation). They received all the paperwork they requested from me on January 25th, and I was approved for my first medical and received it on March 8th on the mail. It took 6 months in total from my first AME appointment, being deferred, receiving instructions from the FAA, doing all the tests and getting all the paperwork requested, sending everything back in January, and getting approved!
Thank you very much, it is for sure a relief! I still can’t believe it!
My goal now is to study and get all the written tests out of the way. I currently work full time, so I will probably need a few months to get ready.
Next step will be starting my PPL. As much as I would like to dive into ATP right away, after a lot of consideration, I will be doing my PPL at a local school that is 2 minutes away from my home (MYF). It is conveniently located, and I would like to keep my current job position to pay as I go.
I know my PPL will take me longer and will cost me more going at my own pace, but that is the plan we have put together with my husband. We didn’t want to go into a massive financial loan just right now, until I make sure that after my PPL:
I still love flying - I have flown a few times already, and absolutely love it. But spending 30’ in an airplane twice a year, is not the same as flying and being in a cockpit all the time.
I truly see myself going to the next level, the airlines.
If all of the above still applies (which I am fairly sure it will), then I will request approval for a loan, quit my current job and go to ATP with credit for my PPL.
I am really excited for this new adventure, and this forum has helped me SO MUCH. I am forever thankful to all of the mentors and students.
I am really bummed that ATP is not anymore at my home location, it would have been much easier, but my commute won’t be too awful either.
Just wanted to give you a small update; I just passed last Friday my PAR written test. It took me a little longer (roughly 8 weeks) that what I have seen in this forum, but I work full time and have an extremely busy life outside work. Scored a 98% and I am proud.
I am now starting to study for the IRA & FII tests as well as interviewing the 2 schools near to my house to do my PPL.
Congrats on passing the written test, especially with such a high score! Always strive to get scores like that. What is the status of your actual PPL training?
I am interviewing 2 schools this weekend and doing a tour of their facilities and aircrafts. I will probably start flying after passing my IFR test around July. Looking forward to it!
Yes, that is the plan. I just want to do my PPL at my own pace for different personal reasons and as stated before, to make sure that this is what I want to do professionally. After my PPL, I will have a clearer idea on the career path I want to take. If I wish to continue, then I will join ATP.
That’s a great plan! Let us know how your IRA and FII go! It’s a tougher database to get through and a lot will be rote memory since you don’t have that instrument knowledge yet but do your best! Let us know if you have any other questions and of course, please do keep us updated throughout your PPL training!
