The Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025 requires the FAA to publish and maintain an online list of medications approved for use by pilots and air traffic controllers, ensuring transparency and accessibility for medical certification.
Sean Casten
Representative
IL-6
The Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025 requires the FAA to publish and maintain an online list of medications that are safe for pilots and air traffic controllers to use while maintaining their medical certification. The list must be comprehensive, user-friendly, and created in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and updated annually. It will also include a "Do Not Issue" list of prohibited medications, contact information for doctors to ask the FAA questions, and any additional information regarding the conditions a medication may or may not treat.
Clearing the Air: New Bill Orders FAA to Publish Approved Medication List for Pilots Within One Year
This bill, the "Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025," essentially tells the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to stop keeping secrets about which medications pilots and other airmen can safely take. Within a year of this becoming law, the FAA has to create and maintain a public, online list detailing medications and treatments that won't ground an airman during their medical certification process. The main goal is to make it much clearer for pilots, air traffic controllers, and their doctors what's allowed and what's not.
Decoding the Doctor's Note: What Goes on the List?
So, what exactly will this list look like? It's not just a simple yes/no. The bill requires it to be comprehensive and easy to understand, developed with input from folks like air traffic controllers, pilot groups (specifically mentioning the largest representative organization), and other experts. It needs to specify any "time-out" periods required after starting a medication (stabilization periods), clearly label drugs on the "Do Not Issue" list, and even provide the reasoning behind why certain meds are okay or banned. Plus, there needs to be a way for doctors treating pilots to directly ask the FAA questions – think of it as an official, accessible FAQ for aviation meds.
Keeping Up: Annual Updates and Real-World Impact
This isn't a one-and-done deal; the FAA has to update this list every year. For pilots, flight crews, and air traffic controllers, this could be a significant shift. Right now, figuring out if a common prescription or even an over-the-counter drug could jeopardize your medical certificate can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. This list aims to replace that guesswork with clear, accessible guidelines, potentially saving careers and reducing the stress around seeking necessary medical treatment. It puts crucial information directly into the hands of the people who need it most, right from when they first apply for their license and medical certification.