Deferred FAA Medical Certification

[636_Castle]

Hellooo gents.

 

Hoping someone can answer a question for me regarding RW medical certification processing.

 

In August of '11 I had to go in to see my AME. Thinking I'd leave with a current medical certificate, I was surprised to find out that my medical certification was being deferred to the FAA's Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City, OK due to an amphetamine medication I was put on, but had since come off of. The FAA suspected I had been put on this medication because of a disqualifying condition, and requested write-ups, chart notes, summaries, and prognoses of 4 different doctors, as well as $1,800 in neurological testing.

 

I was given 30 days to provide this information to the government. I contacted 16 neuropsychologists in my region, and only one was actually capable of administering the eight tests the FAA asked me to undergo. Unfortunately, he was booked until mid December...quite a ways away from the letter I received from the FAA in what was then only September. I needed more time.

 

I wrote to the FAA explaining the circumstances...and explaining the amount of time I would need. They granted me 30 more days...clearly they weren't understanding.

 

After several discouraging phone calls, I discovered the FAA only grants extensions 30 days at a time. If I failed to provide the information they requested, my certification would be closed.

 

After several more extensions, and exhausting tests, I finally had everything required of me by mid January of 2012, and I sent my paperwork off a few weeks ago, with an estimated delivery date to Oklahoma on January 31st.

 

I now await a decision from the FAA on whether or not I'm airworthy. I've heard horror stories of people waiting horrendous amounts of time to hear back during this deferral review process. The most recent information I can find on the internet is from 1998, which says the process can take several months at most. However, during this time, the FAA was working over-time and was working hard on shortening this waiting period.

 

The thing about it though, is I've read your application is actually taken out of line every time you call to ask for a status update, and then replaced at the end of the line. Apparently calling to ask on your status actually prolongs your waiting time.

 

What do experienced, or qualified people on these forums have to say about the deferral waiting period from the FAA? Does anyone know roughly how many more weeks I'll be waiting to get a letter from the government to determine my fate? :noexpression: