AFAC Increases Capacity of its Medical Units

Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) will be the only authority in charge of issuing medical certificates for the aviation industry. The move comes as the Mexican agency seeks to implement the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) requirements to regain the Category 1 aviation safety standard. 

On April 17, 2023, came into force the new requirements for the medical evaluation of Aeronautical Technical Personnel and the reforms to the Civil Aviation Law. These requirements force AFAC to increase its capacity to issue medical certificates, explained the agency via a press release. AFAC reports that medical certificates issued by third-party doctors will no longer be accepted as of May 8, 2023. From that date, all certificates must be endorsed by AFAC’s medical units. 

While AFAC began issuing medical certificates on April 17, 2023, the agency had only six medical units in the country: UM Mexico City Airport, which could only issue 50 certificates per day; UM Guadalajara Airport, which could only issue 20; UM Monterrey Airport, which could only issue 10; UM Toluca Airport, which could only issue 10; UM Cancun, Quintana Roo, which could only issue 10; and UM Tijuana, which could only issue 10. 

New units will begin operating on May 15, 2023, to strengthen the agency’s capabilities, allowing it to issue a total of 165 certificates per day. The units in UM Mazatlan, UM Hermosillo, UM Queretaro, UM Tuxtla Gutierrez, UM Veracruz, and UM Merida, will perform 55 medical exams per day.

“Reminding the aeronautical community that you can schedule your appointment up to 15 days in advance before your previous medical certificate expires, so that you can take precautions and plan your medical evaluation,” says AFAC. 

Mexico has implemented new requirements to recover the FAA’s Category 1 aviation safety standard, as the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) informed that AFAC will request an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA), as reported by MBN.