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Chapter 8.  Medical Facts for Pilots

Section 1.  Fitness for Flight

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1.  Fitness For Flight

a.  Medical Certification.

All pilots except those flying gliders and free air balloons must
possess valid medical certificates in order

to exercise the privileges of their airman certificates. The periodic
medical examinations required for medical

certification are conducted by designated Aviation Medical Examiners,
who are physicians with a special interest

in aviation safety and training in aviation medicine.

The standards for medical certification are contained in 14 CFR Part
67. Pilots who have a history of

certain medical conditions described in these standards are mandatorily
disqualified from flying. These medical

conditions include a personality disorder manifested by overt acts, a
psychosis, alcoholism, drug dependence,

epilepsy, an unexplained disturbance of consciousness, myocardial
infarction, angina pectoris and diabetes

requiring medication for its control. Other medical conditions may be
temporarily disqualifying, such as acute

infections, anemia, and peptic ulcer. Pilots who do not meet medical
standards may still be qualified under special

issuance provisions or the exemption process. This may require that
either additional medical information be

provided or practical flight tests be conducted.

Student pilots should visit an Aviation Medical Examiner as soon as
possible in their flight training in

order to avoid unnecessary training expenses should they not meet the
medical standards. For the same reason,

the student pilot who plans to enter commercial aviation should apply
for the highest class of medical certificate

that might be necessary in the pilot's career.

CAUTION

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The CFRs prohibit a pilot who possesses a current medical certificate
from performing crewmember duties while the pilot

has a known medical condition or increase of a known medical condition
that would make the pilot unable to meet the

standards for the medical certificate.

b.  Illness.

Even a minor illness suffered in day-to-day living can seriously
degrade performance of many piloting

tasks vital to safe flight. Illness can produce fever and distracting
symptoms that can impair judgment, memory,

alertness, and the ability to make calculations. Although symptoms from
an illness may be under adequate

control with a medication, the medication itself may decrease pilot
performance.

The safest rule is not to fly while suffering from any illness. If this
rule is considered too stringent for

a particular illness, the pilot should contact an Aviation Medical
Examiner for advice.

c.  Medication.

Pilot performance can be seriously degraded by both prescribed and
over-the-counter medications, as

well as by the medical conditions for which they are taken. Many
medications, such as tranquilizers, sedatives,

strong pain relievers, and cough-suppressant preparations, have primary
effects that may impair judgment,

memory, alertness, coordination, vision, and the ability to
make calculations. Others, such as antihistamines,

blood pressure drugs, muscle relaxants, and agents to control diarrhea
and motion sickness, have side effects that

may impair the same critical functions. Any medication that depresses
the nervous system, such as a sedative,

tranquilizer or antihistamine, can make a pilot much more susceptible
to hypoxia.

The CFRs prohibit pilots from performing crewmember duties while using
any medication that affects

the faculties in any way contrary to safety. The safest rule is not to
fly as a crewmember while taking any

medication, unless approved to do so by the FAA.

Fitness for Flight

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