The FAA recently issued guidance that allows for FAA medical certificates that expire while they are unable to be renewed to be used until June 20, 2020. This policy may be updated if a continued inability to secure FAA medicals persists.

To make this policy effective, the FAA noted in the policy that the:

“Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will not take legal enforcement action against any person serving as a required pilot flight crewmember or flight engineer based on noncompliance with medical certificate duration standards when the expiration of the required medical certificate occurs from March 31, 2020, through June 30, 2020.”

This allows effective use of expired medical certificates at their issued level of authorization during this period of time. The basis for this approach was noted as that:

“The FAA has determined that those persons subject to this temporary measure may operate beyond the validity period of their medical certificate during the effective period of this accommodation without creating a risk to aviation safety that is unacceptable under the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAA will reevaluate this decision as circumstances unfold, to determine whether an extension or other action is needed to address this pandemic-related challenge…”

To ensure you are in full compliance of this policy, any potentially affected pilots (and DPEs) are suggested to review the full policy.

Click here for the full policy document.