Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners

Special Issuances - Arthritis and/or Psoriasis

AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) is a process that provides Examiners the ability to re-issue an airman medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate (Authorization) to an applicant who has a medical condition that is disqualifying under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 67.

An FAA physician provides the initial certification decision and grants the Authorization in accordance with 14 CFR 67.401. The Authorization letter is accompanied by attachments that specify the information that treating physician(s) must provide for the re-issuance determination.

If this is a first-time application for an AASI for the above disease/condition, and the applicant has all the requisite medical information necessary for a determination, the Examiner must defer and submit all of the documentation to the AMCD or RFS for the initial determination.

Examiners may re-issue an airman medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization, if the applicant provides the following:

• An Authorization granted by the FAA;
• The type of arthritis or psoriasis;
• A general assessment of condition and effect on daily activities;
• The name and dosage of medication(s) used for treatment and/or prevention with comment regarding side effects; and
• For arthritis - comments regarding range of motion of neck, upper and lower extremities, hands, etc.

The Examiner must defer to the AMCD or Region if:

• The applicant has developed any associated systemic manifestations;
• For arthritis - new joints have become involved;
• The applicant required change in medication used for control of the disease; or
• The applicant is taking steroids doses equivalent to more than 20mg of prednisone
  per day (steroid conversion calculator).