Aviation Medicine

So I know this guy, I told him this was normal for the most part and easily explainable. It’s good it’s on his radar, I’m sure there’s a fairly high percentage of dudes that have been through this. It could come up in a security clearance interview. There was a topic on meds, but this kid was never on meds. What do the masses think? I used the f’ing search function, mostly. ———————————————— When I was very young one of my parents passed away in an accident. My other parent wanted me to see a counselor/psychiatrist about it. I ended up having a pretty good relationship with the psychiatrist and met with him regularly from a young age through most …

I am in the process of applying for an Air Guard UPT slot and although I haven’t officially run into this problem yet, I wanted to get ahead of it. Six years ago, when I was 19, I went into the doctor after feeling a lump in my testicals. I was a cyclist and had always felt a little discomfort while riding. They put me in for an ultrasound and found some cysts and hydroceles. Ultimately, the doctor didn’t recommend any action and said it was definitely due to the cycling. He even cleared me to get back on the bike. Below is the report from the ultrasound. I have found that this issue, despite living comfortably with it, could be a disqualifier and I would like to know wha…

I was just disqualified at Wright Patt for my FC1 for having keratoconus. I understand this is a hard "no" presently at this time, but so was Lasik a few years ago. On the outside I am a commercial pilot with a Class 2 physical and I know there are captains for major airlines with this condition who have either had a corrective surgery or continued without it. My vision is well within standards. My question is this...is there research or a case study being conducted on corrective procedures for waiver approval for this condition? Is there anything I can do from my end to contribute in convincing doctors this is a waiverable condition when you have had a corrective p…

I had LASIK Surgery in July of 2017 and corrected to 20/20 in both eyes. I have a contracted flight spot coming out of AFROTC graduating and am commissioning June of 2020. I received my final IFC-1 clearance in October. I passed the vision component with 20/20 vision but it has since degraded to 20/40 in my right eye. I have free enhancements under the original procedure plan. Do I have to have approval from the Air Force to undergo this procedure and would I lose my FC-1 classification? What is the right way to go about getting this enhancement without endangering my medical clearance? Thanks for any help in advance.

Morning Gents, Wasn't sure wether to post this here or “what are my chances” but anyway, I just had an ankle fracture requiring surgery. Doc put some screws and a plate in. I’m 24y/o, about half way through my PPL studying up for the AFOQT, planning on finishing around early summer. Obviously depending on how it heals (surgery was today), does anyone think this would affect my chances of getting a slot/have any advice on the matter? I’m healthy otherwise, just wanted to get some opinions. Thanks guys👍

Is there even a process for this? I have some pretty significant sinus issues and am looking at taking a new medication that is not approved. I won’t even consider it if it forces a DQ, but if there is a process to get it approved, I’d be interested in knowing what it is. The FAA has approved it on a case by case basis, but I also realize that they are much more permissive in that regard. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone, I'm currently a Junior in highschool looking to join rotc in college, most likely navy to become a pilot, hopefully fighters, and was wondering if my hypothyroidism which is controlled with levothyroxine would dq me from the military. Some people on other forums have said you can't take any kind of daily medicine so I'm just wondering if that would be an issue or if it's something I can get a waiver for. Thank you.

So I’ve done quite a bit of research on the topic. Based on what I’ve found, BAV is disqualifying for all classes of flight. It is, however, waiverable. That’s where I’m a little confused. Moderate aortic regurgitation is waiverable for FCII and for low G aircraft but it is not waiverable for FCI. Does that mean that flying for the Air Force, ANG, or reserves just isn’t an option for me? I have moderate leakage. No other issues. No symptoms. Just happened to be found on an echo I had done due to family history or heart issues. Based on my understanding, I could fly heavies under FCII but since I can’t pass FCI I can’t fly heavies. Am I understanding that correctly? Any in…

Hi All, I'm awaiting my FC1 for my guard job. I'm always around lots of people everyday for my job so I think sooner or late I may get exposed to COVID. Let's say this happens and I test positive and recover with no issue. When I go for my FC1 in a couple months, will having a previous positive COVID test cause issues for getting my FC1? I have yet to find any guidance on COVID and FC1. Thanks.

Hey everyone! I am currently filling out my Civilian LO application, and the last thing I need to do is decide my top rated AFSCs. I am super worried about not passing the flight physcial due to a microdestomy I had. As much as I want to be the one behind the stick, serving as an officer means so much more to me. Between Pilot, RPA, CSO, and ABM, do any require flight physicals that are going to give me the best odds of getting around the microdestomy? Thank you so much for yall's help, and if you have any experience with getting a microdestomy, I would love to hear it.

Has anyone read the updated 48-123. I am a RPA pilot select, according the AFI I am only required a IFCIII and MFS (phycological). All IFCIII items can be processed as all FOMC and BOMC locations. I have completed all IFCIII requirements and they are packaging my stuff to send to Wright Patt for a 2808 to get signed. Wright Patts response is that the Regulation is wrong and RPA pilots need an IFCII and that everything will need to be done at location Wright-Patt. DAFMAN date 8 December 2020, so anyones educated thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

What's the current regulation on hypertension meds? I am currently on Lisinopril and Amlodipine for controlled essential hypertension and was wondering how this would affect flight qualification. I know monotherapy does not require a waiver, but how about combination therapy? With a #1 nomination to the Air Force Academy, I'm looking at my chances of me showing up to Colorado already knowing I'm not even close to pilot qualified before I even take the flight physical years later.

Hello, by chance is there a pollen allergy waivers to be a Navy aviator?

Hey, I was just wondering if finasteride or minoxidil is banned in military aviation? I am going to apply into Air Force.

A friend woke up in the AM with bad tooth pain today at an AD base where the base clinic (including dental) is closed today so they can be extremism-trained. The Tricare "nurse advice line" suggested going to an ER since dental work isn't covered unless referred to by a mil dentist. I wonder if that's true. It's probably a root canal situation. Can you show up to any dentist and be covered?

I know this topic has been brought up in the past and I am wondering if anyone has updated information on the matter. I had two ACL and Meniscus surgeries after which I gained full functionality. What would be the impact of this when having the flight physical ? Cheers in advance for any help !

I'm an AFROTC cadet with a slot for pilot training and recently encountered some issues with my flight physical. Wright Pat had my medical records with a history of asthma (before my 13th birthday which is the waiverable date for childhood asthma). With that in my record, they sent me in to take a PFT and MCT. I learned that I had failed the PFT and was bad enough the pulmonologist didn't let me take the MCT. (The specific issues was a low FEV1/FVC w/o the bronchodialator and a >200cc increase in FEV1 post-bronchodialator.) I was then told that this is disqualifying for pilot but that I could appeal and probably still have a shot at commissioning. Since then, I t…

I'm being medically retired due to bipolar II. Thanks to the lithium, it's under complete control and I might as well not even have it. Unfortunately, the military is very clear about it and I cannot stay in. But what about flying for the airlines? I've got the hours and experience. I know the FAA lists bipolar as a disqualifying condition, but it is waiverable. Any insight into this?

I have had two episodes of a spontaneous pneumothorax, one in each lung. After each episode I underwent Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery which was a mechanical abrasion pleurodesis. I understand these will require a waiver and lots of patience, but are there any flight doc’s that could tell me what the chances are that I’ll actually get a waiver? After both these episodes I have still maintained my FAA class 1 medical and have completed hundreds of flight hours and gained my commercial pilots license as well as multi-engine and instrument ratings. *currently applying to the new CPW program for the USAF. I should also note that I haven’t had any issues in rel…

Hello all, Currently a Rated Pilot flying for the ANG. I recently discovered a small mass along my jawline that I had originally believed to be an inflamed lymph node. Not an area I would usually inspect on my person, so it was a bit surprising to notice something that seems to have been there for a while. To my ignorance I thought it was something that would go away. Several weeks later, and after no change, I decided to bring it up to my Flight Doc. Flight Doc suggested it was an irregular mass and issued a referral to an ENT of my choice. After my consultation with my ENT he described the mass as a tumorous growth on the parotid gland. I am curr…

Hello so I have been doing some research for months now but it seems like I keep getting different answers everywhere. I was diagnosed with scoliosis recently and its 22 degrees Thoracic and 18 degrees Lumbar... so do I have any chance at a waiver?

Hello, I am applying for a reserve flight engineer job and was required to get a waiver for my history of ADHD. I was recommended qualified by the flight doc and they will be submitting my waiver and flight physical up to the AFRC HQ. Does anyone know if my chances of getting the waiver approved are good if I was recommended qualified by the doc? Thanks.

Hi all, Longtime lurker, first time poster; just want to take a minute to thank everyone for their contributions over the years as it has been incredibly helpful throughout this process. After extensive searching between these forums, the USAF Medical Standards Directory, and the Air Force Waiver Guide I still have a question regarding visual acuity. On airforce.com/careers under the Pilot FAQ’s in response to “What are the general qualifications to fly, including height?” the answer includes: “Have normal color vision with near visual acuity of 20/30 without correction and distance visual acuity of no worse than 20/70 in each eye, correctable to 20/20.” …

I love medicine and aviation. Naturally I am pursuing med school and the flight surgeon path. I've read throughout the internet that Navy flight surgeons attend a portion of their UPT and spend a lot of time back seating jets, whereas neither of these roles are as common for AF flight surgeons. Can anyone on here chime in about this? Is any portion of a flight surgeon's flight time actually logged training? I am aware of the pilot physician program, but unfortunately that sounds like it's all but exclusively for pilots to transition to medicine rather than the other way around.

Hi All, I am currently working a waiver for a herniated disc in my low back. I had a discectomy just over 3 months ago, and was under the impression I had demonstrated the requisite stability noted in the waiver guide. I just talked with one of the flight doctors who is holding up my waiver as they are unsure as to when exactly my symptoms/back issue was stable. My previous flight doctor (who has separated) believed it was once the discectomy was complete the stability could start assuming I did not regress. This new flight doctor is unsure as to when stability will start and is holding up my waiver until she hears back from folks at ACS. Does anyone have any experi…