Aviation Medicine

My question is simple. I know that having migraines disqualifies you for a pilot position, but I also read that if you have not had a migraine in over a year you can be considered for a waiver. Is this true and have any of you heard of someone receiving a waiver although they have had migraines in the past? If anyone has any info about migraines and waivers or knows anyone how has info about migraines and waivers please let me know. Thanks for your help!

Well I guess this is something you can't fix. Atleast as far as I know. Anyways, I NEVER get car sick, sea sick, or air sick. Never. I'm a roller coaster freak too. Usually I tend to just go on one, get off, and run to the next one. After more than a few rides it starts to disorient me, make me wouzy. I don't care, I keep riding them until I can't bear it anymore. Hell sometimes I'll come home feeling wouzy but it's always worth it. Anyways, I guess when it comes to those things my stomach will tend to be a ###### every once and a while. You guys think I'll have problems at UPT or worse yet in a fighter?

Hey guys, long time viewer, first time poster. I am a pretty small guy around 5'3", and I'm just worried this will affect me when I go for a pilot slot. I'm about to be enrolled in ROTC so I know a have a couple years, but I really don't think I'm going to grow that much b/t now and then. I am just curious if any of you know anyone this short and if they have had any problems. Thanks guys

Does anyone know the policy as far as eczema goes for a pilot? I've heard it is an automatic DQ if you currently have it but what about if you might have had it as a kid?

I am a Cadet at the Air Force Academy and I recently had my vision tested for pilot qualification. I passed all my tests with flying colors except the Red Lens Test which I failed. The docs told me to come back for in-depth testing of my depth perception (which is a more thorough examination then the Red Lens Test) since I failed the Red Lens Test. The depth perception test was the one with the circles etc. I passed that one with flying colors as well. The docs then retested me on the Red Lens Test at the end of the depth perception test and I failed it again. The docs said they are going to try and get a waiver for the Red Lens Test and my myopia. The docs said that I pa…

Flight Doc, I'm not sure if I have a hernia or what, but I've had an ongoing soreness and slight swelling in my groin area (between my right leg and bellybutton) for a week now. This started after lifting some heavy boxes. Could I have a hernia or what? I'm worried about going to the flight doc because I don't know how long it would take to come off DNIF for a hernia repair surgery if I do have one. If I don't decide to go in to the doc, can I fly with it or will I end up causing something more serious? dude1

Went up to my clinic to get a better understanding of what the problem is . . . plain and simply put it's LAZY EYE. Vision is perfect, 20/20 all around except one spot where I'm told it's better at 20/17 . . . not color blind, and have good depth perception. The only thing holding me back is lazy eye, and I'm told mine is kinda abnormal where most lazy eyes drift right or left, mine drifts up. Being sent to optemologist for evaluation and for a last opinion as to what can be done to strengthen my eye muscles. Anyone with similar problems get through it? I hear it will be easier for me on the civy side and I would love to fly for the airlines, but I have a g…

I got an email yesterday saying that HQ needed me to get a CBC (complete blood count) done for my FC1 to go through. I'm wondering why they need this. Didn't they do that when they took blood the first time? If there is a problem, why didn't someone catch it before it got to HQ? Regardless of the reason, I'm getting it done this Friday at Luke AFB. Is this something that could potentially cause a problem??? Thanks in advance!

Four months ago I seperated my shoulder playing football. The clavacle is still seperated (level 2/3 seperation), and i have gone to three different orothopaedic doctors and they all agree that my shoulder should heal without sugery, but the bone will stay out of place. Can I still pass the FC I with my shoulder in such a condition?

A new DD Form 2992, "Medical Recommendation for Flying or Special Duty," has been published. This form will shortly replace the AF Form 1042 (and the DA 4186 and NAVMED 6410 for the other services) which are now "obsolete" (so sayeth the form). Ideally it will allow electronic signatures so folks don't need to deal with physical routing and filing anymore. No news yet from the programmers that manage the medical system (ASIMS) on a timeline for the switch. I expect it will be fairly soon. It is available at: https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd2992.pdf

F16PilotMD, Had my FC1a done today. The examiner said that I had a "borderline" EKG and the flight doc reiterated it. Does "borderline" terminology indicate a specific abnormality or just that one of the electrical returns came close to regulation max/mins? The way they used the term "borderline" made it sound like it was medical lingo for a specific EKG abnormality. If the term indicates a specific problem, what are the chances, if any, that it will be a disqualifying condition? Thanks for the help. [ 15. February 2005, 22:45: Message edited by: Critical Mass ]

I have a fairly unique question... I have been healthy my whole life, and currently hold a 1st class medical certificat, Private Pilot Certificate, and have never had any history of mental illness... however, I went to college as a freshman last fall and had some problems adjusting to living away, then on top of everything my girlfriedn who I had been with for 2 years broke up with me. I left the school because I didn;t like the flight program. I then attended a community college near my house and went to see a psychiatrist to see if I had anything wrong with me. He concludd that I just had an adjustment disorder and I asked him if i could go on medication, and he s…

What is the reg on braces during OTS and Flight Training and are the invis-align braces allowed?

I'm in a bit of a fix! I always wanted to be a military pilot when I was young, but I gave up those dreams because my vision was just too bad. Now I've had PRK and am going for my PPL and then applying to OTS. After getting into the process I found that asthma was an issue. My problem is that I was diagnosed with asthma as a child, but now that I've been studying up on A.F. and general medical diagnostic criteria, I think I was misdiagnosed! After telling my recruiter my whole story, he thinks it's best that I don't go through a MEPS examiner and just go straight to the nearest base for an FC1. I think he figures a flight doc will be more likely to not just see the …

This is just a general question regarding the physical. Do you automatically bust your physical if you a couple pounds over the max weight? Any help would be appreciated.

Question, I have a small hemmoroid that i can't seem to shake. I have been using cream, and i dont even have any dicomfort, but it is still there. Are hemmoroids dq for flying or are they ok. I've heard they are dq and am worried that something as minute as this might get me? Thanks

I am currently in the ANG (4+ years) and am in the process of submitting a package to the USAF for pilot selection. My recruiter is telling me that I will have to take the MEPS physical again. I don't understand why because I am already in the military. Any ideas?

AN ANSWER TO END THIS THREAD I am almost 5 weeks post-op and I am getting my ducks in a row to make a waiver application for PRK. I just talked to my helpful contact at Brooks regarding the issue discussed above. You MAY apply for the waiver/FC1 as early as 3 months post-op but must have the cyclopentolate (dialted) exams at 3 months and 6 months instead of 6 months and 12 months. You will be required to have a 12-month exam as well but your waiver should be approved/declined before then. See section 5.1 of the doc pilot2B posted earlier. I believe this is the root of the confusion - you MAY NOT actually go to Brooks for MFS/FC1 before you are 12 months post-op,…

I went to an ENT specialist and he said I have a deviated septum. He suggested a Septoplasty and a Tubinectomy. My concern is I am about to take the FCIA exam in the near furture. Will the surgery have a negative effect on getting the physical certified? Would it be best to have the surgery before or after the physical? Also if the surgery is completed before the physical is there a specified time for recovery before the physical can be completed.

I am wondering if I could be screened out at brooks. I already have my FC1 but what are they checking at Brooks? I mean does anyone know exactly what they check? Blood pressure.. that type of thing?

Hey FlightDoc (or anyone else intimately familiar with the standards prescribed in afi 48-123).... Will having a prescription for ritalin, as a result of being diagnosed with ADHD while in middle and high school, disqualify me for an FC1? I havent received a prescription since I left high school and am beginning to think it was a mis-diagnosis to begin with since my grades have actually improved post-secondary education (not that all that matters really, or does it?). Also... I'm filling out my paperwork for MEPS and have a few questions regarding the Yes or No responses. Maybe I'm being over-analytical but, questions like "Have you ever had allergies?" ... I h…

I have in the past had surgury to repair a broken right elbow. I now have 4 titanium screws in that elbow. They are not needed now and I could get them taken out if need be. Is this something that could disqualify me from UPT. Should I have them removed before my FC1. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

Ok, so here is a really weird questions, but one that I think is interesting. A lot of cadets at my Det want to be pilots, but a few of them are decided to go to Med school to be Flight Surgeons! I have a friend in the Navy who is a flight surgeon, (dang good one too! I guess he almost got flight surgeon of the year for the whole Navy!) This friend gets to fly F-18's and all too! What a deal! My question is: Have you ever heard of anyone being a pilot for 10 and then going to Med school after that? To either be a doc and/or flight surgeon. Highly unlikely I know, but just wondering. I do know that many people change careers and go to med school in their late 30'…

Hi folks, I am planning on getting back to flying here in Korea at Osan, though I need to go get my FAA med. done first. My question is about eyesight, I can not always see 20/20 with my right eye. Sometimes I can, sometimes on a bad day I can not. However I don't want to get a restriction on my license because of something that could be pseudomyopia or ciliary spams, I am planning to get an through eye exam done here on post and order contacts, though can you wear them for the FAA exam? As far as I know, for a first class, you need to have 20/20 corrected or uncorrected, if it is corrected, then it has to go on your license. I was wondering if anyone out there h…

I want to become a fighter pilot. I have peanut and pine nut allergies. They are not severe or anything. I do not need any medication for them. Worst that happens is that I vomit. Nothing else. Would it be difficult to get a waiver in the Air Force? (I want to try to get into an Academy, preferably the AFA) Thank you!