HANGAR TALK
VAI Applauds FAA Decision on Improvement to Medical Certification
Vertical Aviation International (VAI) recently commended the FAA for its decision to halt implementation of a controversial policy that would have classified pilots’ incomplete medical certification applications as denied, the same category occupied by pilots who have been evaluated as unfit to fly.
The FAA’s announcement to shelve its plan to issue initial denials to pilots who provide incomplete examinations or paperwork occurred during an April 23, 2025 stakeholder meeting focused on improving the airman medical certification process. This action comes following strong concerns raised by VAI and more than a dozen other aviation associations and labor unions.
“There was a lot of stakeholder feedback, and we took it seriously and we are not going to do that,” said FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau.
“This is a win for our members and for aviation professionals across the United States,” says Cade Clark, chief government affairs officer for VAI. “Issuing denials for incomplete paperwork would have created misleading records and unintended career consequences. We’re grateful the FAA listened.”
Additionally, the FAA said it is working to improve the online MedXPress portal and modernize the medical process. The agency is also working with industry groups to remove barriers that discourage pilots and air traffic controllers from reporting and seeking care for mental health issues.
“These actions clearly show the FAA’s commitment to engage the aviation community as true partners in safety and modernization,” adds Clark. “This isn’t just
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about avoiding harm – it’s about building a system that works better for everyone.”
VAI was among the 14 aviation groups that signed a December 2024 letter urging the FAA to reconsider the denial policy.
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