FAA Medical question

[WelshRambler]

Hi guys

I originally posted this on the medical forum, but wondered if you guys had any experience of my problem...

I've recently applied for my FAA PPL on the basis of my UK-issued one.

I'm not due to visit the US until the end of May and wary of applying at least 90 days before then, I sent of my validation forms to the FAA (and CAA) about a month ago.

Today I received notification back from the FAA that my details had been validated okay, but there was a notice stating:

"If the applicant's foreign medical expires prior to the issue of a US airman certificate, then the applicant must hold a current FAA medical certificate issued under part 67."

Now, mine (as I image 1/4 of all Class 1 applicants applying at least 90 days in advance) expires before I am due to arrive.

Does anyone know if this means I

a) have to have a medical in the US when I get there (on top of the renewal of my UK one when my current expires)

b) can I just turn up with my new certificate?

Cheers guys


Mark.

[Flyin'Dutch']

WR,

As I understand it the validation is based on the medical and licence you have when the checking process is done.

If that is what it says on the tin then I think the options are:

1. Get and FAA medical as they suggest or

2. Get a new CAA/JAR medical and go through the revalidation hoops once more.

IF you want to know whether a new CAA/JAR medical is valid without going through the revalidation process once more you best ring the FAA.

For things that are as important as knowing whether your licence/medical is valid you want to hear it from the horse's mouth, not some well meaning forum interpretors of the FARs.

FD
FAA AME

[englishal]

The other option would be to get your JAA medical renewed in the UK by a dual CAA/FAA AME, and get the AME to issue an FAA Class 2/3 during the same examination...OR go and see an FAA AME in the UK (I'm sure FD can point you in the right direction;) )

[Keygrip]

Had this before (though as FD says, it's never a guarantee that it was correct).

Revalidation of your UK medical before the run out date would prevent your medical from "expiry", so the pedants who want to play on words would not be relevant to the argument.

It also brings up the reminder that, according to the UK CAA Flight Ops Inspectors (to whom I asked this very question, over lunch, last Wednesday) your UK licence is not valid if not supported by a current JAA medical - so you will need to revalidate/renew your JAA one anyway.

Seems like the pedantic way out of it - should you allow your JAA medical to expire before renewing it - would be to do both medicals (though what we had before was that the revalidated JAA medical was accepted as fulfilling the requirements).

Another one of those "play on words" arguments that could spend years in the courts if you have an incident.

I think englishal has the perfect answer to that one - get both from the same AME.

[WelshRambler]

Thanks for the help on this guys. I have emailed the FAA about it but have, as yet, not recieved any feedback.

I noticed the nearest AME to me is 'FAA approved' according to the details on the CAA website, so I guess I could get both an FAA and CAA issued at the same time?

This probably sounds a daft question, but I presume it involves one medical but two sets of paperwork/fees?

The irony is I have a class 2 medical valid until later this year but I used the class 1 details on my validation form as I was unsure about the validity of the class 2 as I held a newer (but shorter-lived) class 1. I did try and get some details about this from the CAA at the time but got absolutely no joy.


Many thanks!

[Flyin'Dutch']

Rather than waiting for an email you may find it more expedient to ring the FSDO you use(d) for your validation.

Yes it is 2 sets of paperwork and some (minor) differences to the medical as well.

[martinidoc]

I had the same problem last summer. I think the problem lies with the CAA letter of validation sent to the FSDO. On mine this stated that my JAA class I medical had expired even though it had not expired. I did (eventually) manage to contact the CAA, who told me that they did not keep a record in that department of the currency of medicals, and rather than saying that in their letter they simply say the medical has expired!!
That is why the FSDO then tells you that you need an FAA medical. You do not. The priviledges of the FAA PPL are dependent upon your JAA Licence ( with any restrictions) and JAA medical.
If you take your current valid medical certificate with you to your FSDO interview, you should not have any problem

Hope this helps

[Chilli Monster]

I noticed the nearest AME to me is 'FAA approved' according to the details on the CAA website, so I guess I could get both an FAA and CAA issued at the same time?

This probably sounds a daft question, but I presume it involves one medical but two sets of paperwork/fees?


I'm guessing by your location you're thinking of Doc Ramsay in Cheltenham.

Get there early if so, all the forms will be ready for you, and he'll do both for a very reasonable fee. If you're thinking of maybe a standalone FAA in the future then that might be the way to go (And in fact it does no harm getting both done at the same time anyway).

[Speedbird48]

Please check the Medical Forum for an answer from the "Dark Side"

BaD.

[Keef]

Renew your JAA medical before you go, and that's all you need. I did that for many, many years before getting a standalone FAA PPL/IR, and never had a problem.

[WelshRambler]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I spoke to the FSDO in San Diego where I'm due to get my FAA license issued and they concurred that a current JAA medical would suffice.


Cheers!