Special Issuance timelines

I asked when My SI will expire, I was told “one year from when you had your AME appointment” !!

Do I qualify for BasicMed with a SI???
 
I asked when My SI will expire, I was told “one year from when you had your AME appointment” !!
Yep, it's always from the date of your examination even if the FAA drags their feet for seven months.
Do I qualify for BasicMed with a SI???
Yes, you do now.
 
I think the big time saver for me was that I found an AME that is also a specialist in the field of my illness. My AME is a cardiologist and having cardiology issues made him the key. He knew what to write, what they wanted and made sure it was all in order prior to my AME visit. They did want an additional test but i was warned that that may happen. Having an AME in the specialty of my illness was huge, it cut out the “make an appointment with your cardiologist and have him write a letter saying....”.
 
That is exactly my plan! Thanks!! Im expecting that package to arrive tomorrow.. which makes me wonder, does the certificate get mailed from OKC or from regional? My letter requesting for additional testing and results was sent from the regional office. Im hoping the medical will be sent from the same.. any ideas? Seems like the regional surgeon was handling my medical.. hoping 2 days will be the transit time via USPS. Wish i thought to ask for a fax lol
 
I couldn't say. All mine was done through OKC only. The "certificate" is a poor copy with what may or may not be original. When I called and found mine was approved, they faxed me a copy of the SI and the letter which accompanies it giving specifics on duration of the SI. It took a few days to get the real one.
 
On hold for 30 mins listening to “please continue to hold” then exactly at 6:30 cental time the message changed to “thanks for calling, we are closed”
 

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Get the faxed copy! My original SI certificate took three weeks from the date it was approved to show up in the mail. In my case I needed it to get back to work so I'm glad I had them fax it.

It's frustrating that when they want to take away your privileges, they will overnight a registered letter, but when restoring your privileges, they lick a stamp and drop it in the outgoing mail bin.
 
I tried to call but was on hold, then i got the closed message.

The funny part is that it is already showing up on the airmen inquiry on the FAA web page.

Ill call in the AM and request a fax or email.

This is my first medical, 3rd class.
 
Got it faxed, its a horrible copy. But with any luck, ill have an original in my mailbox soon.
 
It cant be any worse than this....
 

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That pic makes it look good..

So SI certificates not have numbers on them, on the printed application from my AME at the time of deferral, It had a incomplete medical cert as part of the application, but it had numbers on it. Is that an indication thats its an SI?
 
Got the SI in the mail today!! It was dated 12/11, hit the post office on 12/12 and received today 12/15. So it was really approved that day I called and it was mailed out but the internal mail probably delayed it by 1 day.

The one I got in the mail is certainly a better one than I recieved by fax.
 
Got the SI in the mail today!!
DO..NOT..LOSE..THAT..LETTER

The information in that letter is a major part of your ticket to fly. Especially that you are permitted to fly as long as you comply with the instructions and information contained in the letter.

Included are the instructions on what to do when it's time to renew your certificate.

My suggestion is to put the letter in the same safe spot where you would keep your passport, birth certificate, and deed to the homestead. But before you do, take a photo of it and store the photo either on a CD-Rom, Thumb Drive, or Cloud storage.

The reason for the counsel is more about the info on renewing your medical. In the past, frequent threads for Dr. Bruce's attention were: "Dear Doc, I have this SI condition and it's time to renew my medical. What do I need to bring to the AME?" To which Dr. Bruce's response was "It's all there in your SI letter.... have you read it?" If you have the letter, what you need to do is there in simple language. If you don't have the letter, then it's a scramble to get a copy and tell your PCP what you need.

So don't lose that letter!
 
DO..NOT..LOSE..THAT..LETTER

The information in that letter is a major part of your ticket to fly. Especially that you are permitted to fly as long as you comply with the instructions and information contained in the letter.

Included are the instructions on what to do when it's time to renew your certificate.

My suggestion is to put the letter in the same safe spot where you would keep your passport, birth certificate, and deed to the homestead. But before you do, take a photo of it and store the photo either on a CD-Rom, Thumb Drive, or Cloud storage.

The reason for the counsel is more about the info on renewing your medical. In the past, frequent threads for Dr. Bruce's attention were: "Dear Doc, I have this SI condition and it's time to renew my medical. What do I need to bring to the AME?" To which Dr. Bruce's response was "It's all there in your SI letter.... have you read it?" If you have the letter, what you need to do is there in simple language. If you don't have the letter, then it's a scramble to get a copy and tell your PCP what you need.

So don't lose that letter!


I have already make copies, send a copy
To my cardiologist who is also my AME for his records, I have also scanned a copy and Emailed to myself.. we are in the same page!! Thank you for your reply and your advise!
 
The original stays in my safe (unsigned and not cut out) and will be only used for making copies, I carry a copy of the certificate that was copied onto a thicker stock of paper.
 
As far as I know once you've called three non consecutive days your file is flagged as an interested airman. After that, I don't know if further calls improve your position. I did the three non consecutive, then Bruce called on a certain day, then I was to call once weekly.

Hey Bill,
I understand this post is a couple years old, but do you remember how much time it took the FAA to respond after Dr Bruce’s call was made?
 
I’m trying to remember the timeline. I think we submitted the package to aeromedical end of September. The FAA came back to us mid-December wanting another test. We knocked that out and I was issued 1st week January.
 
Time turnaround depends on the level of review for such. An insulin dependent diabetic, Class 3 with a perfect file, is taking but 5 weeks.

Sleep Apnea, with a perfect file- the AME can issue but if it's not "perfect" (can't do a "staff level" approval) can take seven or eight weeks.

It's all cases...Bill's was just about as expected. It took the agency at that time 13 days before they could even see the file. I called on 29 September and on 8 Dec and was informed that they wanted one further thing- that was 12 days before the letter arrived at Bill's mailbox and mine. Fortunately they issued the "we're good" letter just before the 35 day government shutdown.

His is one that 100% of the time goes to the FAA doc.

FAA Nonrevenue airman psychiatry (not BILL!) stands at 220 days. sigh.
 
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Also, correspondence is backed up by 2.5 weeks. My first class SI was authorized on Sept 26th but wasn’t typed and prepared until Oct 14th
 
Time turnaround depends on the level of review for such. An insulin dependent diabetic, Class 3 with a perfect file, is taking but 5 weeks.

Sleep Apnea, with a perfect file- the AME can issue but if it's not "perfect" (can't do a "staff level" approval) can take seven or eight weeks.

It's all cases...Bill's was just about as expected. It took the agency at that time 13 days before they could even see the file. I called on 29 September and on 8 Dec and was informed that they wanted one further thing- that was 12 days before the letter arrived at Bill's mailbox and mine. Fortunately they issued the "we're good" letter just before the 35 day government shutdown.

His is one that 100% of the time goes to the FAA doc.

FAA Nonrevenue airman psychiatry (not BILL!) stands at 220 days. sigh.

I am a non-revenue airman (Class III) and am taking the SSRI-I pathway after seeing a HIMS-AME. Doctor sent recommendation for regular issuance after SSRI cessation (accompanied with a COG-SCREEN) in July. Got letter requesting 60 days post cessation information from prescribing physician again! HIMS AME responded with a long form letter from my PCP in September. Now waiting :(.. Will this still take another 200 odd days? I call the FAA twice per week..
 
What information do they share with u when u call?

I don’t get much at all except being reviewed.

fhink I might just quit calling and when it happens it happens.
 
What information do they share with u when u call?

I don’t get much at all except being reviewed.

fhink I might just quit calling and when it happens it happens.


that's all i've been able to get. other posts suggest you call on non-consecutive days; M-W-F-Tu-Thu-M-W-F----- I've been doing that off an on since June!
3rd class AME exam mid-June, heard from FAA end of Aug requesting more test/doc paperwork, received 2nd request from FAA for more info early Oct. Still waiting for results... Full disclosure, at the end of Aug, I signed up for AOPA's Legal/Medical support and they're reviewing my docs before i send them into the FAA to ensure i don't mess anything up. in the meantime, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue...
 
that's all i've been able to get. other posts suggest you call on non-consecutive days; M-W-F-Tu-Thu-M-W-F----- I've been doing that off an on since June!
3rd class AME exam mid-June, heard from FAA end of Aug requesting more test/doc paperwork, received 2nd request from FAA for more info early Oct. Still waiting for results... Full disclosure, at the end of Aug, I signed up for AOPA's Legal/Medical support and they're reviewing my docs before i send them into the FAA to ensure i don't mess anything up. in the meantime, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue...

Careful with AOPA Legal...... early on they told me some stuff on navigating what turned out to be a somewhat routine medical occurrence that turned out to be less than accurate.
 
AOPA's medical advice is often worse than useless. They were part of the problem I ended up grounded for seven weeks.
 
Time turnaround depends on the level of review for such. An insulin dependent diabetic, Class 3 with a perfect file, is taking but 5 weeks.

Sleep Apnea, with a perfect file- the AME can issue but if it's not "perfect" (can't do a "staff level" approval) can take seven or eight weeks.

It's all cases...Bill's was just about as expected. It took the agency at that time 13 days before they could even see the file. I called on 29 September and on 8 Dec and was informed that they wanted one further thing- that was 12 days before the letter arrived at Bill's mailbox and mine. Fortunately they issued the "we're good" letter just before the 35 day government shutdown.

His is one that 100% of the time goes to the FAA doc.

FAA Nonrevenue airman psychiatry (not BILL!) stands at 220 days. sigh.

@bbchien
How long for revenue psychiatry currently?
 
@bbchien
How long for revenue psychiatry currently?
I am close to 12 months. SSRI, 1st class, and revenue airman (corporate) for what was considered relatively simple case according to my HIMS AME and panel of docs I met with. Local FSDO gave me impression (not confirmation) that it was stuck in a void for a bit of time. Submitted 12/17/18, flagged to expedite 8/2/19, opened 10/2/19, and I wait. Have not been asked for anything along the way. A few more weeks and it will arrive expired....
 
I am close to 12 months...

I am hoping you are the exception. You are Path 2 I believe. I’m guessing Path 1 should be shorter in most cases.

Is there any preferential handling difference for legacy v. regional v. Corporate in reference to “revenue” airman? Or are they all generally “revenue” airman?
 
James, be sure to do another first class deferred exam, this month...sigh.
I have two that have been pending a year.....
 
James, be sure to do another first class deferred exam, this month...sigh.
I have two that have been pending a year.....

wow. That is aweful. Why do some have to wait for over a year? For what condition was their respective deferrals? All on a ssri?
 
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