Questions tagged [medical]

Use for medical certification and aviation-related physiological and psychological factors; use [medevac] for medical evacuation aircraft and their procedures.

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29 votes
5 answers
25k views

Will having a history of depression prevent me from flying?

The AOPA website lists four medications as acceptable treatments for depression. I was treated with one of them, but it ended up making things far worse, to the point where I had issues with suicidal ...
Trace's user avatar
  • 291
21 votes
4 answers
31k views

Can you obtain a pilot license with impaired vision / being blind in one eye?

A friend of mine is blind in one eye and has normal vision in the other eye. Would this prevent him from getting a Private Pilots License in the US?
Stanley's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
2k views

Do pilots who have color deficient eyesight see light gun signals differently?

Can pilots with color deficient eyesight expect to see the red, green, and white light-gun signals as such? In other words, if the controller is giving them a green light, will they see green? If they ...
Terry's user avatar
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10 votes
4 answers
13k views

What medications may pilots take while flying?

We all get sick, suffer from allergies and sometimes chronic issues. It is not safe to fly while on some medicines or in some cases, for some time after taking the medicine. How do I know what I can ...
casey's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
924 views

Can a pilot use glasses to meet the FAA required 20/20 vision?

When the FAA said that pilots require 20/20 vision, does that mean that you have to achieve 20/20 vision with glasses or without glasses?
Johnson Paul's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Can I get an EASA Class 1 medical if I have monocular vision?

I have monocular vision (amblyopia). In the USA I can get an FAA first class medical via a SODA waiver. Can I get an EASA Class 1 Medical issued with the same monocular problem? I would be applying ...
Eire32's user avatar
  • 31
68 votes
6 answers
17k views

How do people suffering from hypoxia not realize they aren't getting enough oxygen?

I've seen reports of flight passengers/crew suffering hypoxia, and many times without knowing it. My question is, how could you not be aware of it? For example, at above 10000ft, if your body is ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 813
39 votes
3 answers
45k views

Why are pilots deemed unfit to fly after emergency ejection?

There are many instances where pilots need to eject out of the cockpit due to emergency situations, and after such an ejection from some modern aircraft, pilots are deemed unfit to fly airplanes for ...
Victor Juliet's user avatar
17 votes
1 answer
6k views

Can one become a scheduled airline pilot with just one functional eye?

I was reading about TACA Flight 110 that amde a successful emergency landing on a New Orleans levee and I found out that the Pilot in Command was blind in one eye. Just curious, under current FAA ...
curious_cat's user avatar
  • 8,436
17 votes
5 answers
51k views

Can I become a pilot if I am under treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder?

I know that before you even begin training in flight school, you are required to get a physical examination from a doctor to determine if you are fit to fly. Online articles stressed the importance of ...
YonkeyDonk64's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
14k views

Why do some air forces not allow color-blind pilots?

Some air forces, e.g., the Indian Air Force (IAF), do not allow color-blind pilots. Is this local only to the IAF or a global procedure? Also, are there any regulations regarding commercial pilots not ...
Victor Juliet's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

In what ways is color blindness an issue in modern jet airliners?

What are the specific problems in modern jet airliner cockpits or in piloting operations that would prevent a person with any type or severity of color blindness from completing his/her job to the ...
Paul Redmond's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

What mental health standards must a candidate meet in order to qualify for a pilot's medical certificates?

What are the mental health standards (if any) that a candidate pilot must meet in order to qualify for a medical certificate? Answers for Canada, the US, and Europe would be particularly interesting ...
Scary Spice's user avatar
33 votes
3 answers
14k views

What can airline pilots do if they are no longer in the position to fly, career-wise?

I was having a discussion with a friend about the incident in the past days (4U 9525) and more specifically the what could be described as 'Taboo' of Psychological problems among pilots. We came ...
Thunderstrike's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is it possible to suffer barotrauma during decompression?

Barotrauma is damage of lungs by air overpressure and may occur at overpressure as low as 30 kPa (4 psi). Overpressure in most aircraft is about double that value. So is it possible to suffer ...
Jan Hudec's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
3k views

Has there even been a case of pilot incapacitation due to food poisoning?

On commercial flights, pilots are usually required to have different meal, to reduce the chance of food poisoning affecting both pilots. Is this just a precautionary measure, or has this actually ...
kevin's user avatar
  • 39.7k
10 votes
2 answers
18k views

Does my 1st class medical give me 2nd and 3rd class medical privileges after it expires?

If a 35 year-old pilot were issued a 1st class medical on January 15, 2012, am I correct that that pilot would be able to exercise privileges requiring a 1st class medical until January 15, 2013? Or ...
ryan1618's user avatar
  • 14.9k
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the limits on myopia for a pre-eye refraction surgery for a class 1 medical certificate?

Are there any limitations for myopia (-number) for a pre-eye refraction surgery for a class 1 medical certificate? I live in India & I have -6.5 & -7.5 in the left & right eye respectively....
Rajdeep Javeri's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

How can I get an FAA Class 3 medical re-examination?

I have some headache problems and my examiner submitted my data for deferred examination on the FAA website. The results have yet to come back but let's suppose that I fail on this one - can I apply ...
datasn.io's user avatar
  • 215
7 votes
1 answer
896 views

Third Class medical license, what changed, if anything?

Supposedly, in 2016, Congress passed a new law making it easier to fly without the usual medical examination requirements. However, in looking at one of the rather obtuse "FAQs" on this new law, I don'...
Tyler Durden's user avatar
  • 13.3k
7 votes
3 answers
9k views

Does oxygen become less available during night-time?

The following excerpt is from the FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (page 7-37): Some people flying above 10,000 feet during the day may experience disorientation due to the lack ...
RaajTram's user avatar
  • 2,877
6 votes
7 answers
3k views

Is flying without sunglasses in daylight doable in a Cessna 172?

Do the windows in a 172 provide any protection from the sun or is too bright? Particularly, if one wants to do a flying lesson and was told to bring sunglasses more than once. So, is it critical? My ...
verve's user avatar
  • 807
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a person with unilateral anosmia in the right nostril become a commercial pilot with a class I medical?

I had a minor road traffic accident in November 2014, since then I cannot smell through my right nostril, where my left nostril is working normal. I am looking to know if you know any pilot you have ...
app's user avatar
  • 49
4 votes
3 answers
3k views

For an FAA commercial license, can I use EASA/ICAO 2nd class medical?

I have an FAA 3rd class and EASA 2nd class medical. On my EASA 2nd class medical it says "This medical certificate complies with ICAO standards". To obtain an FAA commercial pilot license, will I ...
Philipp's user avatar
  • 1,242
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is it possible to get a medical certificate from Canada and a pilot license in America?

I posted a question prior to this but it was too long and confusing. I have done some research and so I will ask: If I obtain a medical certificate from Transport Canada (TC), and get my commercial ...
Hazel's user avatar
  • 33
24 votes
2 answers
20k views

How much radiation is an airline pilot exposed to in a year?

Flying exposes us to more radiation since we are closer to the sun, and there is less atmosphere to protect us. Consider an airline pilot flying on a routine and frequent basis. How much radiation is ...
kevin's user avatar
  • 39.7k
20 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why was I getting an uncomfortable feeling in an R22 at 3,000 feet?

I was thinking through my flying experiences when I remembered a strange sensation while I was a student. In a Robinson R22, with about 35 hours experience, I was doing a solo flyout to a nearby ...
Simon's user avatar
  • 31.2k
16 votes
3 answers
1k views

Can a person with Type 1 Diabetes get a medical and learn to fly?

A friend of mine has had Type 1 diabetes most of his life, and has it well under control. How does he go about finding out if he can get his medical and learn to fly?
Lnafziger's user avatar
  • 58.9k
15 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why do aviation careers have age limits?

Many aviation careers have mandatory retirement ages. Airline Pilot (licensed with FAA): 65 (raised from age 60 a few years ago) Controller FAA: 56 NATS: 60 Why do these age limits exist? Is it a ...
digitgopher's user avatar
  • 5,281
15 votes
4 answers
8k views

How does pregnancy affect airline pilots operating under FAA regulations?

Female airline pilots have an area of medical concern that male pilots don't deal with: reproductive issues. If a female airline pilot operating at an air carrier in the United States of America under ...
ryan1618's user avatar
  • 14.9k
14 votes
3 answers
3k views

What can I do on the ground in order to help my body acclimate to aerobatics?

I've just started aerobatics training! Unfortunately, my middle ear really messes with me, particularly during loops. Strangely, aileron rolls give me no trouble at all. I know from other ...
Steve V.'s user avatar
  • 23.2k
14 votes
1 answer
810 views

How were the graveyard spiral and other sensory illusions discovered?

The graveyard spiral has an infamous reputation for killing even experienced pilots which only have visual flight experience. What the wikipedia article does not mention is how and when the spiral and ...
Thorsten S.'s user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can having an incorrect hair color on my FAA medical certificate get me in trouble?

I just got a new FAA medical certificate, and I accidentally put down that my hair color is blonde when in reality it is dark brown. Also, my hair is listed as brown on my pilot certificate. I bleach ...
Keegan's user avatar
  • 6,867
10 votes
2 answers
10k views

Is the Valsalva Maneuver safe?

The Valsalva Maneuver is where a pilot or passenger pinches their nose, closes their mouth, and then attempts to exhale through their nose. It is used to equalize or clear a buildup of pressure in the ...
Steve V.'s user avatar
  • 23.2k
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do airline pilots relieve the physical stress and discomfort of sitting for long periods of time?

Airline pilots are required to sit in the cockpit for quite a considerable amount of time during their day. For example, during the preflight, climb and descend portions of the flight, there are many ...
kevin's user avatar
  • 39.7k
8 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is the best way to reapply for a denied Class 3 medical certificate?

To Become a helicopter pilot is a major life goal of mine. My aunt was a naval pilot, when she took me up in a helicopter it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Background: Today I ...
InNeedOfClass3Medical's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
18k views

Can people who suffer from motion sickness become pilots?

Suppose a person suffers from motion sickness when flying, but wishes to become a pilot (let us say, with the eventual goal of flying for a major commercial airline). Is this possible? Is motion ...
Nate Eldredge's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
3k views

How does the FAA decide if a PPL applicant with ADHD can fly?

For the past few years, I've been struggling with fidgeting, difficulty spending long periods of time on creative tasks, difficulty finishing long and complicated tasks, and a few other symptoms. ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 181
7 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is flying at 14,000 MSL safe for children without supplemental oxygen?

FAR 91.211(a) requires supplemental oxygen for all passengers above 15,000 feet. Are there any health implications of a 5 hour flight at around 14,000 feet on children without any supplemental oxygen?...
Peter's user avatar
  • 707
7 votes
2 answers
9k views

Why barotitis, but only during descents and sometimes?

I experience barotitis only during SOME (not all) descents. During takeoffs, my ears feel different, but I feel no pain. Is the cause pilot's skills, rate of descent, or aviational?
user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is it legal for pilots to transport or use marijuana?

More and more states are legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. What does that mean for pilots? Is it legal for pilots to transport marijuana within states that have legalized it? Can pilots ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 71.7k
7 votes
1 answer
798 views

Can a private pilot receive recurring training while waiting for a special-issuance medical approval?

In the last year, I have had to undergo bypass surgery. I am fully recovered now (and past the mandatory 6-month waiting period), but have just been apprised by my AME that my 3rd class medical ...
Kaelin Colclasure's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can I get a first class medical with eyesight of -4.25/-1.00 diopters?

I'm wondering if I'm able to obtain the FAA 1st class medical certificate with the power of -4.25 and -1 in my eyes. I heard that the difference between the two eyes must not exceed 2 diopters.
Axel omnias's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
515 views

Are there tricks or training to handle spatial disorientation?

For spatial disorientation, are there tricks to block out certain inputs like focusing on what the eyes see and blocking out the ears? I am curious if there are training techniques to practice on the ...
Lilibete's user avatar
  • 564
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is there truly no way to get information about medical application status?

I had an event in 2005 that has not happened in the 10 years since. When I went for a 3rd class medical the AME I went to seemed very skittish and wanted to send my records to Oklahoma City for ...
dazedandconfused's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
5k views

How do I get permission to fly when diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?

I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea a few weeks ago. I'm told that this somehow complicates my ability to get a license (I haven't started on my license yet.) I'm having a hard time ...
Jae Carr's user avatar
  • 24.1k
5 votes
1 answer
381 views

If you are able correct your vision in one eye, must you correct your vision?

After reviewing this exchange: Can you obtain a pilot license with impaired vision / being blind in one eye? I can see that having monocular vision is allowed by faa rules, but I would like to clarify ...
JuuB406's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
0 answers
620 views

How to control fear of flying? [closed]

Four months ago I travelled to US (my 3rd time visit) from India. I always have that aerophobia just before and during flying but it has grown exponentially when the American Airlines flight took-off ...
Aeirophobia's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

My driver's license was suspended for not having insurance. Should I even bother to apply for a medical?

My insurance lapsed for a few days, and during that few days that I got caught. Furthermore, it's the second suspension in my life because I got a bunch of tickets when I was younger. I hold a sport-...
Throw Away Account's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Having declared a mental health condition in the past, how will this affect my plans to work as a pilot, and what should I do about it now?

About a year and a half ago I moved into an apartment, where pets are not permitted. In order to be able to bring my pet with me, I applied online and obtained an "Emotional Support Animal" letter ...
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