PDF Version October November 2008 - Midwest Flyer

Guest eDitorial
Questions About Your Medical?
AOPA Can Help!
by AOPA President Phil Boyer
The big news in the aviation
medical world is that FAA has
recently extended the duration
of most medicals for pilots under age
40, a move that AOPA supported. But
pilots of all ages will probably have a
question about medical certification at
some point. AOPA is here to help.
The AOPA Medical Certification
Department is staffed by medical
experts who are in regular
communication with the staff at FAA’s
Aerospace Medical Certification
Division in Oklahoma City. That
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relationship means expedited
paperwork and answers for AOPA
members who use this invaluable
service. In addition, FAA’s recent
move to electronic tracking and
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26 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
filing helped immensely in reducing
the backlog of paperwork in need
of review. AOPA has been actively
involved in the system improvements
since they began about 10 years ago,
and many of our recommendations
were accepted by FAA.
One advancement on our end is the
AOPA TurboMedical ® , a Web-based
tool for pilots to use in preparation for
completing the actual FAA medical
application before visiting their
aviation medical examiner (AME).
AOPA developed the interactive
medical application, which is based
on the actual FAA medical certificate
application, in an effort to help our
members identify potential problems
in advance so they can take appropriate
action. If any questions arise after
using the form, please call the AOPA
medical staff at 800-USA-AOPA.
For pilots who need to obtain a
special issuance certificate, which
allows pilots with certain medical
conditions such as heart diseases and
diabetes to get a medical certificate,
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – The Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
will hold its annual Expo, general
aviationʼs premier convention and
trade show, at the San Jose McEnery
Convention Center, November 6-8.
This will be Phil Boyer᾽s last Expo
as AOPA President, as he introduces
AOPA President-elect Craig Fuller to
the membership. Fuller will assume the
De s t i n at i o n s
there is a unique opportunity to
get certified in person at AOPA
Expo. Dr. Warren Silberman, who
manages the FAA Aerospace Medical
Certification Division, will be on-site
to review AOPA members’ cases. If
you are attending AOPA Expo in San
Jose, November 6-8, you can call
800-USA-AOPA to reserve your time
with Dr. Silberman. Space is limited.
Also at AOPA Expo, members of the
AOPA Board of Aviation Medical
Advisors, who are all AMEs, will be
hosting a booth to answer attendees’
questions relating to medical
certification. And Gary Crump, AOPA
director of the medical certification
department, will be presenting three
seminars to help Expo attendees with
medical certification issues.
To find out more about AOPA
Expo, visit www.aopa.org/expo.
Become a member of AOPA, the
world’s largest aviation association,
which is working on behalf of general
aviation pilots. Join AOPA today!
(www.aopa.org/join/) q
AOPA To Hold Annual Expo In San Jose
presidency on January 1, 2009.
“With its cutting-edge spirit, San
Jose is the ideal venue to showcase the
latest innovation in general aviation‚”
said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
“This yearʼs Expo is sure to be a
memorable one.”
Each day of AOPA Expo will kick
off with a free general session at 9
a.m., featuring Boyer and top industry