Aviation Medicine

Obviously asking for a friend…anybody have experience with a CSF aka brain/spinal fluid leak? Specifically, if surgery is required what are the implications for continued aviation service?

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…

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 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…

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…

Finding absolutely zero information on this process except from the very generic information that AFPC pushes out. I reached out to them and received additional clarification on the actual process, but not necessarily what is/isn't permitted or accepted to be submitted. I'm currently a 2d Lt with only about 4.5 months TIS and therefore I don't have much to show in terms of Air Force accomplishments or awards. I doubt they care about any performance from AFROTC or that I was already selected for a pilot slot beforehand. DQ'ed from FC1 without waiver and attempting to push for an Exception to Policy. Background info: AD 2d Lt; Commercial Single/Multi + Flight Inst…

Hi all, Headed to Wright Patt for my FC1 soon. Can anyone give clarity on what the flight doc looks for when you're asked to perform the Valsalva? I know they look for movement of the tympanic membrane/eardrum but I was hoping to find more clarity on this. I have some scarring my on eardrums from childhood ear infections that otherwise do not affect my hearing or ability to equalize. The Valsalva in particular allows me to clear my ears, though I only hear the "pop" in my left ear. I had a civilian ENT observe this as well and they were able to verify seeing movement in the left ear drum but not the right. I have much better success clearing both ears with…

I just got pinged that I was ID’d as a bone marrow match for someone in need. What would that do for my Mil/Civilian medical? DNIF for a bit during recovery?

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?

Hey Flight docs, I'm an active duty cross-trainee with a class III medical, currently awaiting ABM training. A few months ago, I started experiencing some pretty intense GI issues to include constant indigestion/ & reflux w/associated chest pain (stress test ruled out cardiac), nausea, stomach pain, and back pain (right shoulder and between the shoulder blades). I was placed on medical hold after I arrived to Tyndall. Of primary concern was the reflux, which has been resistant to every medication in the book (I'm currently on protonix), and which was discovered to have caused some moderate gastritis and esophagitis upon endoscopy (although the esophagitis has cle…

1. I have recently been awarded with a stye on my eye. Will this hurt me in the physical? I think it's due to stress but not sure. I have seen a eye doctor and was told to just use a warm wash cloth. Thanks in advance.

Hi Everyone, I am looking for advice or others experiences if they have ever been DQ'd from WP for their IFC1. And I'm not talking about trying to get a waiver for unwaiverable conditions (ie. you don't like that you truly have it but you still want to fly) ie. a technician or doctor didn't do the test correctly or didn't follow the procedures that they have. I've been told by numerous FS that I shouldn't be trying for an ETP because I don't have the condition that I was DQ'd for but shooting to appeal WP. Anything is appreciated.

I wasn't sure if this should go under the General Discussion or Aviation Medicine forum, so I just figured I'd toss it here. I got my FC1 completed back in January of this year. At the time, my recruiter told me everything looked good and I would probably have it approved and receive an OTS class start date by mid-march. It's now the beginning of may and I'm not even sure if the FC1 has left the base I originally took it at to go to Randolph. My recruiter seems a little reluctant to return phone calls and I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do to find out where the physical is right now and how long things are going to take. Always ready to hurry up and …

Anyone have any info on the physical that happens right before starting UPT or during the first week? Are these the same standards as the IFC1 and MFS down at brooks?

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…

Does anyone have the standards for bloodwork at fc1? Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Quick discussion for the Air Force guys here. A few years back, shortly before I commissioned in the AF, I was selected for UPT but shortly thereafter medically disqualified at Wright Patterson AFB for all flying duty (Pilot, nav, RPA, ABM) based on a very rare but also extremely minor corneal imperfection, Thygeson's Keratitis (small spots on the surface of my eye). I still met the vision minimums but unfortunately the flight surgeons would not consider me for a waiver, and their justification was that this condition was "debilitating","extremely painful", and "progressive". I remember the day I was disqualified, they were adamant that I would never be able to g…

Hello all, I’m set to retire next year and I was curious about disability claims, and how to properly document any ailments. Is there such a thing as a retirement physical? Is it different from my annual PHA? Hopefully I can get a more in depth physical so I can get my health issues on paper. If this is a thing, how far ahead of my retirement date should I schedule said physical? If it makes any difference, I am in the reserves. thanks for your input!

Hello all, I have a heart murmur that's due to moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation. I did not have to request a waiver to get my class I FAA flight physical. It's an asymptomatic condition that does not require treatment. Is that condition waiverable to be a pilot? Is a waiver even needed? Thanks. Alex

Hey everyone! I'll start off with the essential "sorry if this post is incorrect I'm a new guy." I'm looking to get some answers I've been hard pressed to find on VA disability ratings and whether mine are passable or overall what needs to be done in my circumstance; as well as for anyone that has medical records accessible in the military system. Essentially, I was a former paratrooper in the Army. As is to be expected with paratrooping (and the infantry in general), your body gets rocked a bit, and I left the service with a 90% disability rating. With that, I'd like to say I'm still in excellent condition and am active; even leaving with a class 1 medical sta…

Hey y'all. Got a situational question that probably doesn't have a right answer. I'm a civilian pilot, been applying/interviewing for fighters for about 2 years now. I've got spondylolysis (previous stress fracture in my back) that I'm pretty sure will hang me up medically. My understanding is that it's waiverable, but on a case by case basis, with the main focus being on the ejection seat. I don't want to give up the dream of fighters, but the Civil Path to Wings (CPW) application came around and I decided to apply. This would skip T-6s and go straight to T-1s, meaning my back may not be a problem becoming a pilot in the USAF. So, if anyone has experience gett…

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 !

recently took a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) at FCI because I was born a few weeks early. didn't pass - apparently my bronchial tubes are somewhat obstructed and all my measurables were 'below normal.' I've got no asthma history, no history of inhaler use, never smoked, have played sports all my life (including college football), recently ran a half marathon at a pretty good clip, and have never had any difficulty breathing. despite all of this, flight surgeon at FCI said the chances of my waiver getting approved for a below-normal PFT are 'iffy at best.' does anyone else have any history with poor PFT results? I'm getting a second PFT test in the…

Question for those of you retiring soon, is there a difference between getting any health medical paperwork while deployed vs. home station, in regards to later getting out and making your case for disability? Does it carry more weight since it’s in the AOR? Thanks

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