AircraftOwner Online

MedXPress is the FAA’s new system that allows pilots and student pilots to input their normal flight physical into an electronic database.  In the past, pilots would have to hand fill out the 8500-8 medical certificate form and then, the AME would have to type it into the system.  MedXPress now allows for the pilot to input this data directly saving time and insuring accuracy.  There are some “got ya’s” so read on!

A pilot starts the process by finding the site which is not necessarily an easy task. The easiest way to find MedXPress is to Google it or by remembering https://medxpress.faa.gov (don’t forget the https://). All the common browsers will work with the system except Chrome which I am sure will in the future.

During the first site visit, an account will need to be set up and a password established. The FAA will send you a temporary password which you will need to use to log immediately back in the system to change to a self chosen password explained below.

The account name is your Email address but the password has to be between eight and twelve characters containing three of the four character groups (upper case, lower case, numerals, and non alphabetic characters). Since most of us do not have a regular password that meets these criteria, I use my month and year of birth (e.g. August2010). There is a mechanism for recovery of a lost password but you will have to answer three security questions correctly to do it! You will also be locked out of the system for 15 minutes if you enter the wrong password three times.

Fill out the 8500 form as you normally would. Just remember, if it does not allow you to input some data, you have not checked something above it correctly. For instance, if you do not check “yes” for “Do you currently take any medicine…,” you will not be allowed to enter any drugs.

If you are not sure of what you should put down, you can call an AME or save you work and complete it later. You have 30 days to finish an application or it will disappear from the system. If you do put something down that is incorrect for whatever reason, your AME can correct the mistake but he must explain why the change was made. Thus, if you put down that you use heroin and then tell the AME is was a mistake, his explanation might appear “interesting.”

When you finish the form, the system will give you a number. Print out or write this number down. DO NOT LOSE THIS NUMBER. Take the number with you to your AME exam. Without the number, the AME will not be able to import
your data.

You have 60 days from the time your form is submitted to see your AME. During that time period, your form is in electronic “never, never land” and will evaporate in 60 days. If you do not see your AME in 60 days, you will have to re-enter all the data.

What if you have put something in the 8500 that you decide you did not want to put down on paper? Before giving your AME the MedXPress confirmation number, you can discuss the issue with him. If you decide that you do not want the data to become part of your record, do not give the AME the confirmation number. Your data will disappear in 60 days and you can do it all over again. However, it the AME is given the number, the data will be in your file forever.

Technical help with the MedXPress site can be obtained via Email at 9-NATL-AVS-IT-ServiceDesk@faa.gov (got to love those easy government addresses) or by calling 877-287-6731.