The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on September 4, 2026. The document, identified as 2026-18162, outlines a proposed change to how airman medical certification is handled for applicants with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Under the current framework, many applicants with this condition must undergo a Special Issuance review by the FAA. The proposed rule aims to streamline this by allowing eligible applicants to receive their medical certification at the time of their examination. This shift acknowledges that modern medical advancements have significantly improved the manageability of certain forms of diabetes.
The change is designed to reduce the burden associated with the Special Issuance review process. It allows the FAA to issue certification directly during the exam for qualified candidates, rather than requiring additional post-examination review. This applies to airman medical certification standards found in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), specifically Part 67.
The proposal concerns applicants for airman medical certification who have non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The FAA is inviting public feedback on the proposed changes. Interested parties must submit their comments on or before October 5, 2026. The docket for this rulemaking is numbered FAA-2026-10990, and the notice number is 26-15.
Summary written for CheckAero from the official document. It is not legal advice; read the full text before acting.