Hints for Your FAA Medical Examination and Keeping Your Pilot Medical Certificate

2. Select an AME that you and other pilots are comfortable using.

The AME should be knowledgeable about aviation medicine and willing to work with the pilot, the pilot's treating physicians, and the FAA Regional and national offices if necessary, to help you retain your medical certificate. Many AME's do relatively few examinations each year and have a very busy office practice. The pace of their practice may not allow them to take the time to make a phone call to the Regional Flight Surgeon or the Aeromedical Certification Division at Oklahoma City if a question arises about your medical qualifications. Those AME's who do make the time for a phone call may save you weeks of administrative time versus those who do not take the time, but instead defer a medical certificate to the Regional Office or Oklahoma City for a decision. Some AME's do hundreds or even thousands of FAA physicals each year and are extremely familiar with the nuances of the FAA administrative process. They are very comfortable working within the system, knowledgeable about the regulations and capable of assisting the pilot with rapid determinations of eligibility.  Find an AME now.