The FAA describes an AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) as 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 who is an FAA staff member (higher in the chain of command than your AME) provides the initial certification decision and grants the Authorization in accordance with 14 CFR § 67.401. The FAA's initial Authorization letter is accompanied by attachments that specify the information that treating physician(s) must provide for the re-issuance determination. The treating physicians are not typically your AME, but are more likely to be specialists in the problem area or your primary care provider.
If this is a first-time application for an AASI for Glaucoma, and the applicant has all the requisite medical information necessary for a determination, the AME must defer and submit all of the documentation to the AMCD or the Regional Flight Surgeon for the initial determination.
Examiners may re-issue an airman medical certificate for Glaucoma under the provisions of an Authorization, if the applicant provides the following:
- An Authorization granted by the FAA;
- Certification only granted for open-angle-glaucoma and ocular hypertension;
- The FAA Form 8500-14, Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form is filled out by the treating eye specialist; and
- A set of visual fields measurements is provided.
- The FAA Form 8500-14 Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form demonstrates visual acuity incompatible with the medical standards; or
- There is a change in visual fields or adverse change in ocular pressure.