Nueces Aeromedical Services

23/05/2025

CACI'S

Good Morning, Pilots and other flying critters

Recently, the FAA and the US Congress have been concerned that too many pilots are ‘medically disabled and still flying’ and that this could have a negative impact on Flight Safety. If you have a chronic medical condition, the Flight Doc might be able to issue with a ‘CACI’ and avoid you being deferred.

The CACI process (Conditions AME Can Issue) allows your AME to process a lot of medical issues but there is a checklist that we will follow or you must be deferred (currently it takes several MONTHS to process deferrals). However, the CACI process adds an additional duty to the pilot. You MUST provide a ‘Current, Detailed Clinical Progress Note’ from the medical doctor (or PA or NP, etc.) that is prescribing your medicine or treating your medical condition.

First, CURRENT means in the 90 days preceding your upcoming physical.
Second, the DETAILED, CLINICAL PROGRESS NOTE is a standard way of summarizing your medical information. All doctors and providers understand what is meant by a ‘Clinical Progress Note’ but they are swamped with paperwork and you are adding another straw to the camel’s back, as it were. However, with medical software it is only a button push or two for a ‘Detailed Clinical Progress Note’, so ask nicely but be firm. The FAA has clearly instructed AME’s that they are NOT to take Pilots at their word regarding their medical care and must have your Clinical Progress Note. If you want to FLY and require a CACI, you MUST have the ‘Current, Detailed Clinical Progress Note’.

Compliance has been very poor. So, the FAA has ordered that if the pilots do not comply then they MUST be deferred. If this is ignored it means that both you and your AME will be violating Federal Statutes, and so it goes……...

Clear skies and safe travels,

Dr. Phillip F. Jackson, M.D.

21/03/2025

When the pilot takes his toy to his AME appointment...
Thank you Jarrod with Ace High Helos for stopping by.

13/03/2025

Ever wonder what is inside the little white library? Our flight ✈️ clinic has a personal touch.
Call us today to book your next FAA flight physical with Dr Jackson AME

20/11/2024

VA medical disability
From the Desk of:
Dr. Phillip F. Jackson, M.D., Senior A.M.E.
110 North 4th Street
Robstown, Texas 78380
(361) 726-9152 (office)
nuecesaeromedical@gmail.com

Good Morning, Pilots and other flying critters

This Note is addressing some of the VA medical disability paperwork and recent developments with the FAA.

1. The Veterans Administration and it’s recent change of heart (for the last 10-15 years being enthusiastic about Veterans Disability Benefits) has had a few ‘side effects’;

a. The US Congress was a bit bothered by having Airline Pilots 100% disabled, per the VA, and yet still actively flying with major airlines.

b. The FAA’s response was that the Pilots were perfectly safe to fly because they undergo extensive physical exams with Flight Surgeons on a regular basis.

c. The US Congress’s response was to allow the FAA to have access to the VA database (but the VA did NOT link ID information with the medical files in order to protect the Veterans medical confidentiality).

d. The FAA analyzed the database to list the totals of various medical problems that the Pilots received benefits for.

e. The FAA initially asked (and then required) the pilots to submit their VA paperwork to their Flight Surgeons for review and to pass it along to the FAA to complete the medical files. Further, they required the Flight Surgeons to address why each diagnosis was NOT a hazard to Flight Safety for every Veteran Pilot.

2. This all happened over the last 5-6 years or so and various changes have occurred along the way.

a. The current requirements for the Military Veteran Pilots is that they MUST have a copy of their VA Medical Disability Benefits paperwork (that includes all of the diagnoses and the denied medical claims) on file with the FAA.

b. The FAA is auditing all of the Military Veteran Pilot’s medical records to make sure they are complete.

c. They are now requiring that the Military Veteran Pilot’s VA paperwork be in their FAA medical file before the Flight Surgeon can issue a medical certificate.

d. The FAA has started to send letters to the individual Veteran Pilots to let them know that their records are either incomplete or complete. These letters have only resulted from Military Veteran Pilots that HAVE been audited.

e. Once a Pilot has been audited they should not have to worry about their VA Medical Disability benefits until the benefit percentage changes. As it increases the paperwork must be updated.

And that sums up the numerous changes that the Military Veteran Pilots have been subjected to maintain their medical certificate. All Classes fall under this requirement but the First Class are being audited as a priority and then the other classes will come under scrutiny.

I hope this long and overly-complicated explanation clarifies the current situation and makes it easier to deal with.

Dr Phillip Jackson

02/05/2024

Thank You to all our wonderful Pilots!
Pilot Feedback: Very professional and helpful. Dr Jackson and his nurse are very knowledgeable of the FAA medical certification process and provide personal attention to each airman

02/05/2024

Pilot Feedback : Best doctors visit I’ve ever had. I’m telling my flight school (splendid aviation) to send every aviator yalls way. Flying has been a big dream of mine for a while and yall did a great job of making my first aviation medical visit a memorable one. Everything was professional and timely but still had an amazing mom and pop shop feel to it. Love the office decor and positive attitude!!
Thank You for the feedback! 😀

19/09/2023