This Just In - MedXpress Use Mandatory

TMetzinger

TMetzinger

Final Approach
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
9,660
Location
Northern Virginia
Display Name
Display name:
Tim
Moving Away From Paper - The use of MedXPress is mandatory beginning October 1, 2012
Notice Number: NOTC3897
Effective October 1, 2012, pilots must use FAA MedXPress to complete an electronic application for an Airman Medical Certificate or Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8500-8.

As many of you know, the Federal Government is taking steps across the board to become more efficient and to reduce costs, and our move to electronic records is consistent with those initiatives.

One of the significant enhancements will establish a tracking program so that pilots and AMEs can query the system and electronically determine the status of applications.

Future enhancements will also transition air traffic control specialists (ATCSs) to MedXPress, after internal FAA coordination and some modifications to the ATCS certification system.

Why wait for the October 1, 2012 deadline? We encourage you to begin using MedXPress today. MedXPress is located at https://medxpress.faa.gov/

If applicants have any technical issues with MedXPress, they may reach MedXPress Support at 877-287-6731.
 
The AME I use has been requiring people to use the system for several years now. It's easier on everyone and you can take your time at home filling in the information. You can even save it and come back to it at a better time if you need to. Time to think before hitting SEND to the FAA is always a good thing. Balancing the old clipboard and pen on your knees while trying to remember which doctor(s) you saw (and when!) over the past 2 years (or 5 years!) is gone forever. :D
 
I saw Bruce's comments somewhere (forget if it was here on on Red Board) that done right, the more savvy AME's can use the electronic system to forestall deferral and denial issues for an airman who wasn't aware a condition would lump into those categories.

Something about being able to review the information before officially downloading it, permitting discussion with the airman in a consulting fashion before going "official" AME. This provides the ability to counsel the airman so that the required documentation can be obtained, or before their sport pilot privileges are put into jeopardy.
 
I think my comments are on the Red Board.

FAA announced this in April. In June about 30 % of applications were MEdx. And they want to go to 100% in 4 months? Hmmmn.

If the FAA electronic system is down on a day (like it was in March on a monday) I did six paper apps and filled in the electronics after hours. But Starting Oct 1, I have to send everyone away if the electronics are down.

I am trying to teach all my airmen NOW to print the PDF on the page after "Submit" for my review before I download anything, so we can do the Q&A before going on record. That icon for print is labelled "View work as PDF" or some such and is ONE TIME only (if you go back, it's not there). The words "print" or "SAVE" are just not there, and it's AFTER the submit process.

Files that are not downloaded by a designee tour to fairy dust in 60 days. Starting Oct 1, files that ARE downloaded COUNT. So everyone needs be aware and FIND THAT BUTTON.
 
bbchien said:
I think my comments are on the Red Board.

FAA announced this in April. In June about 30 % of applications were MEdx. And they want to go to 100% in 4 months? Hmmmn.

If the FAA electronic system is down on a day (like it was in March on a monday) I did six paper apps and filled in the electronics after hours. But Starting Oct 1, I have to send everyone away if the electronics are down.

I am trying to teach all my airmen NOW to print the PDF on the page after "Submit" for my review before I download anything, so we can do the Q&A before going on record. That icon for print is labelled "View work as PDF" or some such and is ONE TIME only (if you go back, it's not there). The words "print" or "SAVE" are just not there, and it's AFTER the submit process.

Files that are not downloaded by a designee tour to fairy dust in 60 days. Starting Oct 1, files that ARE downloaded COUNT. So everyone needs be aware and FIND THAT BUTTON.
Click to expand...

My AME asked me to print mine out. I didn't realise that they have a funky system, where they need to manually approve your account and email you a password, so I didn't get it done in time. I had to submit it from my iPad in the lobby and then login to the receptionists computer to print it out. I guess I should not have procrastinated, but I was busy at work.
 
Thanks for sharing this again, Bruce.

What you're teaching your airmen might be worth many mentions in various EAA and AOPA publications.


A question just came to mind. Once you do your thing to download and it's marked as "official", are you downloading to your hard drive to print? And then writing your info on the paper form that then is scanned and sent on? Or are you later transcribing into the "now official" electronic version?

I wonder if we'll see more AME's with a system similar to my PCP's. He now has workstations in each exam room, has the ability to quickly pull up any scanned document and lab reports. He even is making his chart additions and official "orders" during our summary time. My status letter template is there and can be updated created before I leave. Pretty snazzy. I could see some of the younger and more techie AME's adopting something like this to input their required items.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top