MedicalCertificate

Common sense tells us that a pilot, as much or more than
anyone, needs to be in good physical and emotional health. With the exception of the new Sport Pilot license which only requires a driver's license, every pilot is required to take a periodic medical exam and hold a valid medical certificate. The FAA has 3 levels of medical certificates, the first class for Airline Pilots, second class for commercial Pilots and third class for Private Pilots. Your Pilot's license requires your medical certificate to be valid. 3rd Class medicals are valid for 3 yrs if you're under 40 and 2 yrs for those over 40.

In general, an illnesses like heart disease, stroke, epilepsy, fainting, mental illness etc. Etc or any ailment that could
cause you to become incapacitated or lose mental function will be disqualifying. A past history of such an illness is not necessarily a problem if you have made a full recovery but
you quite likely will have to take additional FAA prescribed
medical tests and/or your physician may have to submit
additional paperwork. CAUTION: Far too many medical
applications are denied simply because the family doctor
fails to understand the FAA procedure!! Before giving up
on your dream of flying - seek a second opinion!

Only specially designated local physicians can give FAA exams and issue medical certificates. Here in Victoria, there are several aviation medical examiners plus several more in the outlying areas that can administer these exams. Please call us if you need help finding one. Keep in mind that in the event of a problem it's important that your regular physician and the aviation medical examiner work closely together to get you certified

Obviously illegal drugs/alcohol and pilots are mutually exclusive! If you have a history of dependence or even illegal possessions you likely will be required to prove abstinence for a length of time. Social drinking is no problem as long as you wait 8 hours before piloting an aircraft. Prescription drugs such as pain pills, anti-depressants or any drug that affects your mind in any way are generally disqualifying. If you're on such a drug temporarily like pain pills for an injury, flying must be put on hold until you can get off the medication. Pilots are expected to use good judgment and not fly when they are ill, injured, stressed-out or taking over-the-counter drugs that could affect their flying.

Believe it or not there are pilots flying that are paraplegics, deaf, have missing
limbs, blind in one eye or other serious physical handicaps. In such cases, the Aviation Medical Examiner must first render his opinion that the applicant can fly and then the FAA will administer a special flight test. Special equipment in the airplane or other limitations may then be required.

Often prospective pilots and even existing pilots give up far too easily when they are denied a medical certificate. An initial denial is not always the end of the road! When a local Aviation Medical Examiner detects a problem they can choose to either decide on the issuance or non-issuance themselves or refer the decision to the FAA who will almost always request more information and/or tests from your family doctor or a specialist on which they will base their decision. Remember it's up to you to see that the FAA gets the correct information!!