Aviation Medical Certificate?
What Is A Medical Certificate?
A medical certificate is the FAA’s way of protecting pilots, passengers, and the general public by ensuring the pilots physical fitness to fly.
You receive your medical certificate after a basic physical examination accomplished by an Aviation Medical Examiner(pilot doctor).
Who Must Hold A Medical Certificate?
Any pilot while exercising the privileges of the following certificates must have their medical certificate in their personal possession:
Student Pilot
Recreational Pilot
Private Pilot
Flight Instructor (when acting as Pilot In Command if serving as required crew member)
Commercial Pilot
Airline Transport Pilot
What Class Medical Certificate For Me?
First Class - ATP
Second Class - Commercial Pilot
Third Class - Student, Recreational, Private, Flight Instructor(when PIC as required crew member)
For any flight school student who wants to go to the airlines, it is smart to obtain the highest certificate you will need from the beginning of training.
The reason for this is to ensure you can pass the First Class exam before spending your money to get the certificates, it would be terrible to graduate and then realize you cannot obtain the medical certificate required.
How Do I Obtain My Medical Certificate?
From faa.gov:
”To obtain a medical certificate you must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). As the airman you should follow these steps to apply for and obtain your medical certificate:
Use MedXPress, to complete the initial portion of the application.
Schedule an appointment with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area.
At your scheduled appointment, the AME will complete your medical examination and the remainder of the FAA application form. If you meet the required medical standards, the AME will issue you a medical certificate.”
What Is Tested In The Medical Exam?(Examples given are for a First Class Medical)
Testing categories include: eye, ear, nose, throat, equilibrium, mental, neurological, cardiovascular, and general condition.
Eyes have the most questions, so here is everything tested for your eyes.
Distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.
Normal fields of vision.
No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.
Bifoveal fixation and vergence-phoria relationship sufficient to prevent a break in fusion under conditions that may reasonably be expected to occur in performing airman duties.
To find out more you can read here.
What Conditions Are Disqualifying?
From faa.gov:
”The following conditions are listed in the regulations as disqualifying medical conditions; however, in many cases when the condition is adequately controlled, the FAA will issue medical certification contingent on periodic reports.
Angina pectoris
Bipolar disease
Cardiac valve replacement
Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant
Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications
Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause
Epilepsy
Heart replacement
Myocardial infarction
Permanent cardiac pacemaker
Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts
Psychosis
Substance abuse
Substance dependence
Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.”
What Is The Cost?
The cost is anywhere from $40-$200 depending on the doctor, class of medical, and your age.
Age Limit?
There is no minimum or maximum age allowed for one to obtain a medical certificate. Of course, a pilot under 16 has little use for one since they cannot obtain a student pilot certificate until 16 years old.
More Info?
For more info visit the FAA website.
If you want to become a pilot you can text/call or email us! We are here to help YOU accomplish your dreams!
Thanks for reading,
Jack Parrish, CEO
