A Checklist for Pilots Approaching the
Flight Physical
Preparing for a Medical Certification Physical
and Avoiding the Guesswork
by Robert J. Gordon, DO, Senior AME
Edited by Donald Ross, DO, Senior AMR
Reprinted with permission of FAA Aviation News
This checklist
was prepared by two long time aviation medical
examiners that know the value of good preparation
by the applicant for medical certification.
Although this checklist is not an FAA-generated
or approved device, you might want to consider
making a similar checklist available to
your pilots.-Ed
Pilots, your aviation medical examiner
(AME) wants you to pass your medical exam.
We know how important that continuing to
fly is to you because most of us are pilots
too. If you have problems, your AME, the
FAA, and your personal physician will work
with you to resolve them. We want you to
be happy pilots and to leave our office
with your medical certificate in hand. With
that in mind, here is a checklist to follow
during your approach to landing in our office.
If you follow it, taking off again will
be a piece of cake.
- Do not forget your eyeglasses
- Make sure you have a current eye
exam and glasses, especially if your
near/far vision has changed.
- Bring your Special Issuance letter
from the FAA with you to the exam.
- If you have a Special Issuance medical,
mail in all necessary medical information
requested by the FAA by the required
date.
- Bring all medical information outlined
in your Special Issuance letter.
- Do not forget to tell your AME if
you have one of the 15 disqualifying
conditions: diabetes mellitus requiring
hypoglycemic medications; angina pectoris;
coronary heart disease that has been
treated or, if untreated, that is symptomatic
or clinically significant; myocardial
infarction; cardiac valve replacement;
permanent cardiac pacemaker; heart replacement;
psychosis; bipolar disorder; personality
disorder that is severe enough to have
repeatedly manifested itself by overt
acts; substance dependence; substance
abuse; epilepsy; disturbance of consciousness
without a satisfactory explanation of
the cause; and transient loss of nervous
system function(s) without a satisfactory
explanation of the cause.
- Bring ALL required medical records
from your personal physician regarding
any chronic medical condition. (Examples:
hypertension and asthma)
- See your personal physician for
evaluation and treatment prior to medical
exam if you have borderline high blood
pressure.
- Avoid coffee, decongestants, cigarettes,
or any other stimulants prior to your
exam. These all may rise your blood
pressure.
- If you have a family history of
diabetes mellitus (or other familial
diseases), you need to have periodic
checks with your personal physician
prior to medical exam.
- If you have a family history of
diabetes mellitus, avoid large amounts
of sugar prior to the exam. Urinalysis
will show positive sugar if large amounts
are consumed prior to exam.
- Mark on question 17a. (under Medications)
if you are taking a prohibited medication
on a regular basis.
- Do not forget your SODA (Statement
of Demonstrated Ability; e.g., color
vision defect).
This article originally
appeared in the Fall 2002 Federal Air Surgeon's
Medical Bulletin
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