How long are first time Class III medical approvals taking?

Does anyone have any insight into how long I can expect to wait for a Class III first time medical certificate.

Had ME exam in November.
Submitted to FAA through MedXpress Nov 9. (FAA shows received)
Showed Transmitted through January.
Showing In Review since then.
They have asked for no additional documentation.

I've passed Knowledge and my training is getting close to Solo, which, as I understand, I can't do without that medical.

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

Why was it deferred and not issued by the AME?

 

How long it takes may depend on why it was deferred.

 

Honestly didn't know it was. But after reading your comment I checked the FAA website and see that the ME can issue a certificate.

So, I assume it's because I have diabetes (well controlled).

I did provide the ME with my medical records from my primary care doc. He told me he didn't see a problem, but I guess the FAA has to approve.

In any case, the FAA has not asked for additional documentation.

So I was just wondering if this seems like an unusually long time. I have no point of reference here.

Thanks

 

This decision consideration page from the AME guide might explain things.

From what I recall from my personal experience, anyone that is not in the pre-diabetic range of the spectrum (including those that are already taking medication or insulin) must apply for the Special issuance.

So what might be happening for @Bash is a standard SI deferral.

Fortunately those are not as onerous as the psychological ones.

 

Most applicants walk out of the AME's office with a medical certificate in hand. If you didn't, that means your application was deferred.

 

Diabetic SIs are not fast. They are supposedly complex but the decision tree is fairly simple.
Have you read the ame guide for t2 diabetics (or t1 if you are). Are you on approving meds that the FAA accepts or are you on ones they don’t ? Are you on insulin or any kind ?

i read somewhere else that the diabetic SIs are easily taking 8 months

 

Not sure what's involved for a Diabetic SI, but there might be additional tests you will need to submit to the FAA. Try to find out what (if anything) is applicable and get those tests lined up BEFORE the FAA asks for them.

 

The AME really should have explained the process and what will happen next.

 

For my initial Type 2 pill controlled SI, I brought in the following to my initial AME appointment.:

• Lab test showing current A1C and fasting blood sugar
• Note from treating physician stating he was treating me, I was on metformin, tolerating the medication well, no hyper or hypo incidents, and I had been properly counseled on not letting it get out of control and the benefits of proper nutrition and lifestyle choices.

This was back in 2010 and I got the SI letter and 3rd class within 8-12 weeks.

 

Sadly not all AMEs are actually good.

 

There are levels of diabetes. If you didn't specifically prepare the documents for the exam then they are unlikely to meet the criteria for the special issuance. If your AME did submit the paperwork you provided they are probably building their request letter now. If there is anything on that paperwork that wasn't on your MedXPress, they will ask about it. Same for any missing information about the diabetes.

 

Unclear if we are talking type 1, type 2, CGM. Or non CGM DM -1, here……type 1 CGMs are taking 5 Mon right now…..

 

Currently 8-10 months. They said that they get 2000 applications a day. I've been fighting for 3 years to get my type 2 approval

 

In my non-MD experience, almost all people with "Diabetes" are Type 2.
People with Type 1 almost always say "Type 1 Diabetes".

In terms of Type 2, there is a pretty big difference from a personal diabetic management point of view if they are not using insulin, using basal-only insulin or are on bolus insulin.