How common are denials for third-class airman medical certificates?
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
The FAA has denied just under 2% of 3rd Class applications. Over the past 3 years, this translates to approximately 2000 to 2500 3rd Class Medical rejections per year based on approximately 135,000 to 140,000 annual applications for third-class airman medical certification. Most of these denials were from failure of the applicants to provide sufficient information to the FAA to allow them to make a favorable decision.