Do Pilots Have Perfect Vision?
I’ve had many people share with me that they had to give up on their childhood dream to become a pilot due to the fact they wear glasses or contacts to attain normal vision. This is one of the biggest…
Category Aerospace Medicine
FAA Corner: When do I need an EKG?
An ECG (or EKG) is short for electrocardiogram and is a tracing of the heart’s electrical activity. It can be used to diagnosis abnormal rhythms and even heart attacks. There are two main variables that determine when a pilot will…
How to Find a Good Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
Most pilots have experienced the anxiety and trepidation felt when going to any doctor. This feeling is even more intense when visiting the flight doc for medical clearance. This is why it is so critical for airmen to find a…
A day in the life of a U2 Spy Plane Flight Doc
It is an exceedingly rare privilege for anyone aside from highly trained military pilots to don the yellow pressure suit and fly along the very edge of outer space in the infamous U-2 spy plane. But I was one of…
What is a CACI Condition?
Pilots and other aircrew must maintain strict medical standards to be considered fit & healthy to fly airplanes & passengers. Check out this previous post for a full history and explanation on Aeromedical Standards. The FAA has created a useful…
Want to work for Elon Musk?
As Space X continues to expand into human space exploration so does their need for experts in space medicine & physiology. Become Space X’s next Flight Surgeon Anil Menon has been the lone flight surgeon employed by Space X since…
Should I get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
I received my second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine a little over a week ago. That’s great news for me as it means I’m essentially immune to the deadly virus that has been crushing the health, finances, and overall…
Important Dates: FAA Certificate Extensions for COVID19
Some important dates are approaching and both pilots and AME’s need to be aware. Due to the COVID19 pandemic and challenges accessing medical care, the FAA has modified the standard medical certification process. Within the larger FAA COVID-related regulatory relief…
Flattening the Curve Revisited
Should all businesses reopen immediately if local healthcare facilities are not overwhelmed? Definitely. No way. Maybe? Hmm…I dunno. On one hand (likely the right one), it makes sense that healthcare systems should be optimized to work near capacity…
FAA Medical Certification during COVID19 Pandemic
In light of the recent Coronavirus Pandemic, the FAA has permitted airmen to continue flying with expired medical certificates thru 30 June 2020. This ONLY applies to airmen who were current as of 1 Mar 2020. And if an airman…
