What medical conditions can prevent you from being a pilot?

What medical conditions does the FAA consider disqualifying?
  • Angina pectoris.
  • Bipolar disease.
  • Cardiac valve replacement.
  • Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant.
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications.


What medical conditions can stop you from becoming a pilot?

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.

What disqualifies you from becoming a private pilot?

Having a Criminal Record

Having any offenses related to alcohol or drugs on your record is enough for immediate disqualification. And although not all types of crime will prevent you from getting a private pilot license, they are likely to prevent you from pursuing a career as an airline pilot.


What are the medical requirements for a pilot?

Requirements:
  • Possess a current and valid U.S. driver's license.
  • Held valid medical certificate after July 14th, 2006.
  • Receive a qualifying physical exam from a licensed physician, Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist must be followed.
  • Complete BasicMed course.


Does the FAA check your medical records?

Within FAA , access to an individual's medical information is strictly on a need to know basis. The safeguards of the Privacy Act ( PDF ) apply to the application for airman medical certification and to other medical files in FAA 's possession.


Pilot Medical Test - Does a pilot need to be 100% healthy?



What disqualifies you from a FAA medical exam?

Unless otherwise directed by the FAA, the Examiner must deny or defer if the applicant has a history of: (1) Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medication; (2) Angina pectoris; (3) Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant; (4) Myocardial ...

What if I fail my FAA medical exam?

Denials are not necessarily permanent. If the pilot can present information that the disqualifying medical condition has resolved or is being treated in an aeromedically safe manner, the FAA may reinstate the airman's medical certificate. The third possible outcome is an intermediate decision termed a DEFERRAL.

Can you be a pilot if you have ADHD?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ), formerly called Attention Deficit Disorder ( ADD ), and medications used for treatment may result in cognitive deficits that would make an airman unsafe to perform pilot duties.


Can I be a pilot if I wear glasses?

The answer is YES – you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot! Perfect uncorrected vision is not a requirement to be a pilot or an air traffic controller. Glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery are all (with certain limitations) acceptable ways to correct visual acuity problems.

Can you be on medication and be a pilot?

Airmen should not fly while using any medication, prescription or OTC, that carries a label precaution or warning that it may cause drowsiness or advises the user "be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery." This applies even if label states "until you know how the medication affects you" and even ...

Is there a weight limit for pilots?

Yes, but there are some limitations to take into account. The limit of obesity is a maximum BMI at 35. Like if you are 180 cm and weigh over 120 kg you could lose your medical license. This is a crucial matter because if an emergency appears you need to evacuate through the window and fit!


What age is too late to become a pilot?

The big question is: are you too old for flight school? The answer is no. While some airlines have an age requirement before you can fly a commercial flight, there's no age limit in wanting to become a pilot. Many think that at age 40, they have missed their opportunity to become a pilot.

Can you be a pilot if you have anxiety?

The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.

Is anxiety disqualifying FAA?

To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.


Does high blood pressure disqualify you from being a pilot?

The FAA's upper limit for blood pressure previously varied depending on a pilot's age and class of certificate. The standards now allow certification for pressures up to 155/95 without an evaluation. Pilots with blood pressures above this level may still be certified after a cardiovascular evaluation (CVE).

What does a FAA medical exam consist of?

FAA Medical Exam

Rates are established by each practicing physician and not by the FAA. Your FAA medical exam will generally take about 30 minutes and the medical examiner will do a physical examination checking areas such as your eyesight, hearing, lung function and others.

Do you need 20 20 vision to be a pilot?

What are the FAA standards for vision? Federal Aviation Regulations require that a pilot's distant vision be 20/20 or better, with or without correction, in EACH eye separately to hold a first or second class medical certificate. The standard for near visual acuity (16″) is 20/40 in each eye separately.


What is the medical test for pilots?

During the medical evaluation, you will get a full health examination including vision test, hearing test, heart functioning, blood/urine samples, and a general health exam.

Can pilots have tattoos?

Common Airline Tattoo Policy

Most airlines have a similar policy when it comes to tattoos. They allow pilot tattoos as long as they are not visible while on duty and do not contain any offensive content. This means that any tattoos on the hands, neck, or face must be covered up while on duty.

Can you take Adderall while being a pilot?

Commonly-prescribed Disqualifying ADHD Meds you cannot take if you want to fly: Adderall. Concerta. Ritalin.


Does the FAA allow ADHD medication?

Some of the medications that individuals take for ADHD are Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Strattera, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine. Take note: These medications are either amphetamine-based or methylphenidate-based stimulants. The FAA does not accept the use of any of these medications.

Can you get a pilots license if you take Adderall?

Adderall, as well as all other amphetamines and dextroamphetamines, is a disqualifying medication for the purpose of airman medical certification with the FAA. What does this mean? If you are taking Adderall, your application for medical certification will be denied.

How long does FAA have to deny medical?

However, a petition for review of an FAA unrestricted medical certificate denial cannot be held in abeyance by the NTSB for more than 180 days from the date on which the FAA informed the applicant/petitioner of the denial of unrestricted certification.


Do pilots have high divorce rate?

Just as with flight attendants, the pilot divorce rate is high at 30.5%. Divorce is so common among pilots that there's a term for it in the industry: Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome.

Why do pilots lose their medical?

Certain medical conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and severe personality disorder automatically disqualify a pilot from obtaining an FAA medical certificate and prohibit them from flying. Treatable conditions may allow the pilot to obtain a medical through reporting and monitoring programs.