Last weekend, I attended a medical seminar held by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Denver, CO. The seminar was a refresher training seminar for Aviation Medical Examiners (AME). Although I had not yet been designated an AME, my experience and training as a USAF flight surgeon allowed me to become an AME without attending the traditional introductory training course at the FAA Headquarters in Oklahoma City, OK.
The Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
Aviation Medical Examiners are licensed medical physicians (either MD or DO) that are designated by the FAA and therefore permitted to issue medical certificates to civilian pilots after performing a thorough flight physical examination and review of the pilot's medical history.
A newly trained doctor is designated an AME. After 3 years experience and accomplishing a specific minimum number of examinations, a standard AME can apply to be designated a 'Senior AME' by the FAA. Once recognized as a senior AME, first class physicals can be performed for commercial pilots.
- First-Class: Airline Transport Pilot
- Second-Class: Commercial Pilot; Flight Engineer; Flight Navigator; or Air Traffic Control Tower Operator
- Third-Class: Private Pilot, Recreational Pilot, or Student Pilot
How to Become an AME
The FAA has divided the territories of the United States into 9 geographic regions. Although the FAA attempts to maintain a specific ratio of approximately 150 pilots to every AME in a geographic location, there is a growing need for young physicians to serve as Aviation Medical Examiners.
The average age of an AME in the United States is almost 60 years old. And only 10% of the 3,000+ FAA flight docs are female. In order to ensure that pilots are 'fit to fly' and keep the skies safe for decades to come, the FAA needs to incentivize younger physicians to attend the training to become designated.
If you are a pilot (or aspiring student pilot) located in the FAA Northwest Region or more specifically the state of Utah and looking for an aviation medical examiner, feel free to message us thru our 'Contact Us' page.