Story ID: 
FAA Seeks To 'Unravel' Covid Exemptions
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Another short-term extension of the medical deadlines is in the works, but FAA's Dan Elwell says the agency is hoping to "unravel" these leniencies soon.
Word Count: 287
The FAA is working through another extension on medical requirements, FAA Deputy Administrator Dan Elwell said, but cautioned that the agency also is now turning its attention to “unraveling” the myriad such special considerations as flying begins to pick up and restrictions lift.

Speaking during an online General Aviation Town Hall on Thursday that featured a cross-section of the industry, Elwell said he believes the agency is hoping to get the next extension through “very soon” for another temporary extension, saying it was “going through the proper channels” to ensure the those with expiring medicals can continue to operate. The original medical extension provided until the end of June for the renewal of medicals that were to expire up until May 31. 

Leniency on medical deadlines was among about 80 different "regulatory enhancements" that the FAA has made in recent months to help keep the National Airspace System operating to the extent possible, Elwell estimated. But going forward, the onus will be on both the regulator and the industry to restore the system and regulatory regime, he said.

“It’s going to be on us the regulator to unfold…these various regulatory mitigations that we put in place in a thoughtful way. We don’t want to lift the extension on medicals so that everybody goes un-current the same day,” Elwell said. “We are going to unravel it in a way that makes sense.” This has to be done in a manner that both the pilots and regulators can handle, he added.

In addition, he said, “Operators, maintainers, and manufacturers also have to be very careful and thoughtful in how they get themselves ready and reengage in normal operations.”