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 Hypothyroidism, 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 Hypothyroidism under the provisions of an Authorization, if the applicant provides the following:
- An Authorization granted by the FAA;
- The name and dosage of medication(s) used for treatment and/or prevention with comment regarding side effects;
- A statement regarding any other associated problems, such as cardiac or visual; and
- A statement regarding the current thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level performed within last 90 days.
- The applicant develops a related problem in another system, such as cardiac; or
- The TSH level is elevated.