Addressing Military Waivers
05-17-2013, 10:07 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Awa(k3rE3
Posts: 213
Addressing Military Waivers
Planning on retiring Jan '15. Like many others I have received various medical waivers over the years to allow me to continue flying, most notably for my hearing and vision. Assuming I am able to attain a first class medical without restrictions, will potential employers tend to be more restrictive when it comes to hearing and vision standards? Would this be a potential roadblock to employment (again, assuming I can pass a first class medical exam)? I was hoping some on here could speak from experience when it comes to this matter.
05-18-2013, 06:40 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 481
If you can get a first class medical, you're fine. I've been told that the airlines stopped their additional physicals due to lawsuits. (The idea is if you can hold a medical permit from the FAA, then they can't deny you pilot employment for medical reasons.) Don't know if that's true or not, but I do know this. I retired from the military this month, have interviewed at 5 airlines in the past 6-8 months, have been put in 4 pools and started class at one airline and have never had to do anything (from a medical perspective) other than show a first class medical permit.
05-18-2013, 09:34 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: F-16
Posts: 195
OK,
I'm retiring this fall and just went through this. First off, you need to do a lot of reading. Military waivers have nothing to do with the FAA medical process, but may be indicative of conditions that may require a Special Issuance of your Class 1 certificate. (This is the FAA version of a waiver).
This website gives a brief synopsis of the requirements for a Class 1.
Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
However, as you dig deeper, it quickly requires a legal degree to decipher. If you're not already, I highly recommend joining AOPA and signing up for their pilot protection services. Part of this is a service to help with getting your medical. I used them to QC my documentation before even going to the AME to get things started. However, what they provided that was even more help is here:
http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/medical/
Once you're a member and can access the page, go about halfway down to the portion titled "Health Conditions That May Affect Certification." Click on the areas for any health issues that you've had. Take the time to read each area. It will walk you through what the condition is, why the FAA cares, and then, most importantly, it will spell out exactly the documentation that will be required for it and whether your AME can issue the certificate or whether he has to defer to OKC.
The FAA is not like the medical hobby shop you're used to. They aren't going to ground you for the fun of it. Instead, they are a paper pushing bureaucracy. If you make their job easier, they'll make yours easier. Provide them with 100% of the documents with the required info up front, give them time to run it through the wickets, and if you don't have anything flat out disqualifying, you get your certificate.
Mine had to be deferred and took about 5 weeks. No requests for more info or anything as I provided them all they asked for.
Of note, the FAA now has electronic access to your VA medical records. If somethings in there, make sure you have provided that info to the FAA lest you get busted later.
Additionally, on your application you have to list all your doctors appointments. I failed the new USAF color test and was a little apprehensive on how the optometry followup for my waiver would look to the AME. He asked about it, I told him, and he laughed and said "Well, you passed my color test with flying colors, and that's all the FAA wants." I think the pun was intended...
BL: There is a lot of info out there, some good, some bad. It's your career and I HIGHLY recommend you do the research yourself rather than letting us anonymous cretins on APC pass on WOM info...
Other than that, once you have the medical, I've heard the same thing kingairip stated above...
Good luck,
Droopy
I'm retiring this fall and just went through this. First off, you need to do a lot of reading. Military waivers have nothing to do with the FAA medical process, but may be indicative of conditions that may require a Special Issuance of your Class 1 certificate. (This is the FAA version of a waiver).
This website gives a brief synopsis of the requirements for a Class 1.
Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
However, as you dig deeper, it quickly requires a legal degree to decipher. If you're not already, I highly recommend joining AOPA and signing up for their pilot protection services. Part of this is a service to help with getting your medical. I used them to QC my documentation before even going to the AME to get things started. However, what they provided that was even more help is here:
http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/medical/
Once you're a member and can access the page, go about halfway down to the portion titled "Health Conditions That May Affect Certification." Click on the areas for any health issues that you've had. Take the time to read each area. It will walk you through what the condition is, why the FAA cares, and then, most importantly, it will spell out exactly the documentation that will be required for it and whether your AME can issue the certificate or whether he has to defer to OKC.
The FAA is not like the medical hobby shop you're used to. They aren't going to ground you for the fun of it. Instead, they are a paper pushing bureaucracy. If you make their job easier, they'll make yours easier. Provide them with 100% of the documents with the required info up front, give them time to run it through the wickets, and if you don't have anything flat out disqualifying, you get your certificate.
Mine had to be deferred and took about 5 weeks. No requests for more info or anything as I provided them all they asked for.
Of note, the FAA now has electronic access to your VA medical records. If somethings in there, make sure you have provided that info to the FAA lest you get busted later.
Additionally, on your application you have to list all your doctors appointments. I failed the new USAF color test and was a little apprehensive on how the optometry followup for my waiver would look to the AME. He asked about it, I told him, and he laughed and said "Well, you passed my color test with flying colors, and that's all the FAA wants." I think the pun was intended...
BL: There is a lot of info out there, some good, some bad. It's your career and I HIGHLY recommend you do the research yourself rather than letting us anonymous cretins on APC pass on WOM info...
Other than that, once you have the medical, I've heard the same thing kingairip stated above...
Good luck,
Droopy
05-19-2013, 05:23 AM
#4
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: Group W Bench
Posts: 38
Go to a recommended AME by your buds. I called a recommended AME about some issues, he called the Regional Flight Surgeon (RFS) directly and cleared up any questions he didn't know the answer to before we started the process. I knew ahead of time if my medical would be deferred or if he could issue. Start early, most online apps ask if you have a current class 1.
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