via EAA.org
EAA Aeromedical Advisory Council chairman Dr. Stephen Leonard learned from the FAA (last Friday) that the agency will delay implementation of its new sleep apnea policy planned for next month in order to gather additional input from the aviation and medical community.
The new policy, which would mandate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) testing and evaluation for pilots with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above, was scheduled to go into effect in January. EAA and its aeromedical council objected strenuously to the policy, saying such testing was not FAA's role, was of questionable medical use relating to pilot fitness, would cause additional financial burdens to pilots, and would overburden an already taxed special issuance system for medical certificates.
The FAA is now planning a meeting as early as next month with aviation and medical stakeholders, including general aviation organizations and aviation medical examiners (AMEs).
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