FAA Proposes Scrapping Special Issuance for Most Diabetics

The FAA is proposing sweeping changes to medical requirements for most pilots with diabetes that will allow Aviation Medical Examiners to sign off their first, second, or third class medicals. Only diabetes patients who must use insulin will need a special issuance for their medical. The rules currently say that anyone with diabetes who needs insulin or any other hypoglycemic drug to control the disease is disqualified and must be assessed through the special issuance process. Under the proposed new rule, the term “or any other hypoglycemic drug” will be stricken from that section, allowing those with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) who use the myriad treatments developed since the rule was written in 1959 to be assessed as part of their regular medical.

“The availability of numerous new diabetes medication classes and other non-insulin treatments has substantially improved disease management,” the proposed rule says. “Diabetes is now more effectively controlled, resulting in a reduction in severe complications, including cardiovascular events, hypoglycemia, and other adverse outcomes.” The change will of course save a lot of time and effort for those pilots and it will also save millions of dollars. The FAA estimates scrapping the special issuance for most diabetic pilots will save the industry anywhere between $35 million and $75 million in direct labor costs over the next five years. The agency also says there will be no flight safety impact from the change, based on its analysis of 51 accidents involving diabetic pilots. In 50 of those cases, diabetes complications and medications were not considered to be factors in the crash, and one is still under investigation.