§ 68.9. Special Issuance process.
659 words·~3 min read·
/us/cfr/t14/s§ 68.9·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(a)General. An individual who has met the qualifications to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter and is seeking to act as a pilot in command or serve as a required flightcrew member under that section must have completed the process for obtaining an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate for each of the following:
(1)A mental health disorder, limited to an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of—
(i)A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts;
(ii)A psychosis, defined as a case in which an individual—
(A)Has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis; or
(B)May reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis;
(iii)A bipolar disorder; or
(iv)A substance dependence within the previous 2 years, as defined in § 67.307(a)(4) of this chapter.
(2)A neurological disorder, limited to an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(i)Epilepsy;
(ii)Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; or
(iii)A transient loss of control of nervous system functions without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
(3)A cardiovascular condition, limited to a one-time special issuance for each diagnosis of the following:
(i)Myocardial infarction;
(ii)Coronary heart disease that has required treatment;
(iii)Cardiac valve replacement; or
(iv)Heart replacement.
(b)Special rule for cardiovascular conditions. In the case of an individual with a cardiovascular condition, the process for obtaining an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate shall be satisfied with the successful completion of an appropriate clinical evaluation without a mandatory wait period.
(c)Special rule for mental health conditions.
(1)In the case of an individual with a clinically diagnosed mental health condition, the ability to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter shall not apply if—
(i)In the judgment of the individual's State-licensed medical specialist, the condition—
(A)Renders the individual unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the airman privileges required to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter; or
(B)May reasonably be expected to make the individual unable to perform the duties or exercise the privileges required to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter; or
(ii)The individual's driver's license is revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a clinically diagnosed mental health condition.
(2)Subject to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, an individual clinically diagnosed with a mental health condition shall certify every 2 years, in conjunction with the certification under § 68.3(b)(3), that the individual is under the care of a State-licensed medical specialist for that mental health condition.
(d)Special rule for neurological conditions.
(1)In the case of an individual with a clinically diagnosed neurological condition, the ability to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter shall not apply if—
(i)In the judgment of the individual's State-licensed medical specialist, the condition—
(A)Renders the individual unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the airman privileges required to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter; or
(B)May reasonably be expected to make the individual unable to perform the duties or exercise the privileges required to operate an aircraft under § 61.113(i) of this chapter; or
(ii)The individual's driver's license is revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a clinically diagnosed neurological condition.
(2)Subject to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, an individual clinically diagnosed with a neurological condition shall certify every 2 years, in conjunction with the certification under § 68.3(b)(3), that the individual is under the care of a State-licensed medical specialist for that neurological condition. [Docket FAA-2016-9157, Amdt. 68-1, 82 FR 3165, Jan. 11, 2017, as amended by Docket FAA-2021-1040, Amdt. 61-152, 87 FR 71238, Nov. 22, 2022]