If you are a pilot or aircrewmen whose medical certificate will expire between Mar. 31 and Jun. 30, the FAA has announced that it is waiving enforcement actions against you if you are unable to obtain a new certificate in a timely manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Helicopter Association International (HAI) still recommends affected personnel do not delay in obtaining a current medical certificate. “I note that the document was signed by Legal, not Flight Standards,” says James Viola, president and CEO. “It’s also possible that insurance companies may not acknowledge this document as binding.”
Issued on Mar. 26, FAA Docket No. FAA-2020-0312 provides the requirements for and duration of the waiver for medical certificates issued under 14 CFR Part 67.
In posting the new policy, the agency released this summary: “Due to extraordinary circumstances related to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, until June 30, 2020, 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 expiration of the required medical certificate occurs from Mar. 31, through Jun. 30.”
