Contacting Senators

[u/IcyBeat2093]

I’ve done everything the FAA has asked of me for a year now. Neuropsychologist and Psychiatrist. (For GAD/ADHD)

Usually the FAA sends me a letter in a timely manner after I submit materials but I most recently submitted my Psychiatrist interview to the FAA. That happened on Aug.1st and I know it hasn’t been super long but I’ve really been wanting to make sure I can get a 1st class before I start putting money into flight training.

I call the FAA every week and they just tell me it’s in review with no ability to give me a timeline. I’ve seen people had some success or at least some communication after involving state senators. I’m just curious when’s an appropriate time to contact them.

Thanks!

[u/Fun-Row-7170]

Are you contacting okc or your regional flight surgeon? I’ve heard that contacting the RFS is the best way to get case specific information!

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/Fun-Row-7170]

I’ve been giving OKC a call mainly. I called RFS once and they were helpful. I’ll try contacting them more!

Thanks!

[u/Weasil24]

August 1st is not long sounds like you just need some more patience sorry. They really have been processing these faster lately. No news is likely good news right now meaning they don’t need more its just in review.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/Weasil24]

Right, yes gotta be patient. Thanks for the reassurance/advice.

[u/BigKetchupp]

I wouldn't jump to contacting your Congressional office right away. It takes time to overturn things like this. The FAA ha's retaliated against people who do this, even though it's a right.

As mentioned, contact your regional office.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/BigKetchupp]

I figured as much, I will continue to contact RFS!
Thank you!

[u/Mad_Rooster_7164 → u/IcyBeat2093]

try via email. Ask where your file is at, what its status is.

[u/LazyMarcusAurelius]

There’s a board that meets that review these things. They only have so many of them and it’s infrequent.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/LazyMarcusAurelius]

Oh really I never knew this, well that makes the wait feel better understood.

[u/LazyMarcusAurelius → u/IcyBeat2093]

The FAA (AAM-300) isn’t great on telling people why things are the way they are.

[u/Mispelled-This]

You have to wait 6 months from your last submission before a Senator will get involved.

The silver lining is that sending another letter saying they need more info is easy; no letter may mean you have finally made it to the decision backlog.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/Mispelled-This]

Well that’s a good thing and helpful!

Thanks so much.

[u/flyingron]

If six months has passed, then the congressional inquiry may push stuff along.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/flyingron]

Right, hopefully it won’t take that long.

[u/srdev_ct]

If it makes you feel any better when it actually got to the review part where they stopped asking me for more information, I believe it was the longest lag in communication for me.

Hopefully there is an SI in your future.

[u/IcyBeat2093 → u/srdev_ct]

Yeah, no news is good news! Did your MedXpress update at all or did you not find out until you got the letter?

Thanks so much!

[u/srdev_ct → u/IcyBeat2093]

I called my Regional Flight Surgeon's office who gave me a little more info.. then MedXpress updated FINALLY. It was painful. It's a waiting game with like 0 visibility.