John King confirmed to Flying a personal issue that has been rumored for many months: the FAA has denied the well-known aviation educator’s medical certificate, leaving him unable to act as co-captain aboard the Dassault Falcon 10 he and his wife, Martha, fly. John King is, of course, half of the legendary John and Martha King duo who founded the King Schools, known for online and video education courses responsible for thousands of pilots successfully navigating the FAA’s pilot knowledge exams (the couple also write a regular column for Flying).
John King Vows Battle with the FAA to Reinstate His Medical Certificate
Key Takeaways:
- John King, co-founder of King Schools, had his FAA medical certificate denied in late 2015 due to a seizure experienced in early 2014.
- Despite significant financial investment, extensive appeals, and medical evidence from experts like Mayo Clinic confirming a clean bill of health since the event, the FAA has consistently upheld its denial.
- The FAA's internal experts are divided on whether King's seizure was "provoked," affecting potential reapplication timelines, and the agency has not responded to proposed solutions like special issuance medicals with restrictions.
- King criticizes the FAA's "harsh, bureaucratic" process, arguing it creates an unyielding "hamster wheel" of tests and denials that negatively impacts airmen and the industry.
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