FAA Backtracks on Medical Deferral Changes

Agency delays medical deferral changes after pilot and industry pushback, postponing implementation to March 1.

Marc Cook

Monday, December 23, 2024 at 10:21 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

[Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has postponed controversial changes to its medical deferral process following significant pushback from pilots and industry groups.
The planned changes, which would have affected pilots flying under conventional medicals, BasicMed, and sport pilot rules, were initially set to begin January 1, 2025.
Implementation of the new process for issuing initial denials is now delayed until March 1, 2025, to allow the FAA time for pilot education and a listening session with aviation associations.

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Give the FAA credit for reacting quickly to pilot and industry pushback on changes to medical deferrals that were set to begin after the first of the year.

As previously reported, a change to FAA policy on medical deferrals would have set in motion knock-on effects that could impact pilots flying under conventional medicals as well as those hoping to one day use BasicMed or fly as sport pilots.