Aviation Medicine

Hello all, I was recently picked up ANG and haven’t been able to consult with the base Flight Surgeon yet to discuss my waver chances. My dependent Tri-Care Medical Record show a 4 year history of Asthma, classified “Mild to Intermittent”. I was on albuterol and Advair. I stopped taking medication at age 11 years and 7 months. Haven’t taken asthma medication since. Fast Forward to age 19 ( after realizing my dream to kick ISIS ass via sky), I wanted to be prepared for the upcoming asthma waver challenge. I scheduled a pulmonologist visit and PASSED a MCT, indicating no longer handicapped via asthma. 1. Going forward what are my chances to get a wave…

In regards to being selected as a military pilot and starting IFS, is it a required to have a FAA Medical certificate to fly there? Or is the military flying class 1 med certificate they issue you sufficient? The reason I ask is I am very confident I can pass the Air Force's requirements to fly, however I've had some issues with a DWI a few years ago and the FAA is wanting me to jump through tons of hoops and drop a ton of cash. I have my private pilot license, however the FAA wants me to do there stuff to get the 3rd class medical back. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

Back in 2018, I was medically DQ'd for a cornea thinning issue for RPA. Long story short, I've since started working towards my PPL and as of current, in the final stages of getting a loan so I am committed to civilian flying however, maybe years later down the line, would I be able to reapply for Pilot in the USAF through OTS? Part of me still longs to fly for the USAF which is partly why I'm getting biannual checkups on my condition to establish some level of recorded medical history but I understand the odds are still stacked against me. I just want to know if I should just leave the dream of flying for the USAF and wholly commit to flying on the civilian …

Hello all, Wanted to share my MEPs experience for anyone who might be going soon or in the future - for you "off the street" folks like me. I had some nerves about it because of the horror stories I've heard (some of my friend's got DQ'd for stuff that would make you cringe - pilot slot gone forever) but I definitely would say personally that my day got better as it went on. A couple of key points: Dress professionally - you are going for a pilot slot aren't you? I wore khaki's and a button down tucked in with dress shoes. There were some kids who looked like scrubs - and I noticed they got treated very differently. Sit up str…

The wife and I are both WSOs on AD...15ish years for me on the MDS, about 10 for her. She is in excellent health, not on meds, etc. This weekend she experienced two syncopal episodes (loss of consciousness) while we were eating lunch. No alcohol involved, she had finished her food and all she was drinking was water. First time lasted 60-90 seconds, second time occurred while paramedics were checking BP and lasted less than 10 seconds. She had low BP (no surprise there) but at the ER all her labs came back normal. She's not pregnant (that was confirmed). No root cause established. Saw the flight doc today, more labs (NSTR) and she is now trying to get an appoin…

I just got some routine bloodwork done with my PCP for an annual physical and the results showed higher than average ALA aminotransferase and aspartate aminotrans numbers. Some later blood work and an ultrasound eliminated some common/serious causes (not hepatitis, diabetes, etc) but doctors are recommending a biopsy to figure out what the cause could be. Besides that no other abnormalities on the blood tests and I am in good, healthy physical condition. No drug use or significant medical history besides an appendectomy. I’m currently waiting for the 6-month post-LASIK period to even go to MEPS but I wanted to ask if this is something that that can potentially raise …

I know this topic was somehwhat covered but I just thought I would ask so I could clear it all up. I had a pilonidal cyst surgically removed this past week and was wondering how that would affect my flight physical down the road. I looked it up in the AFI for Medical Standards for Flying Duty and it states "Pilonidal Cyst, if there is a history of inflammation or discharging sinus in the 2 years preceeding the examination. Surgery for pilonidal cyst or sinus is disqualifying until the wound is healed, there are no referable symptoms, and no further treatment or medication is required." The surgeon that performed my surgery stated that it will heal in a month or so, which …

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 …

Hey everybody, Haven't posted in a while, was selected for OTS with a pilot slot last year, went to JBLM for my FC1 in February of LAST year and was eventually denied due to history of asthma, even after completing the MCT with no issues. I was urged by others to look for other routes into the Air Force, but due to my age (29), I figured it was a no-go. Since the age has been risen to 33 for rated officer accessions, I was curious if anyone had gouge on medical requirements differing between AD and guard units? As far as I've read from stuff on here, asthma waivers with a successful MCT are usually no problem, so I was curious if it was due to the other waivers …

I recently did my initial flight physical. I was initially told my vision would disqualify my from pilot, which I knew, but I would be good for CSO. My recruiter call me back yesterday and said I had been disqualified from both due to vision. When I was at the clinic that day, the med tech and I checked a vision standards chart and my refractive error fell into the CSO acceptable category, my refractive error is -4.00 in both eyes. I'm corrected to 20/15 in both eyes. Does anyone know if the standards have been changed recently, or if there is some other mix up that could have caused this? Thanks

Can anyone give any insight into whether carpal tunnel makes you DNIF and if so, how long? What is the process to get it fixed?

Any current aviators that are in with active, but controlled IBS-C/D? I know the waiver guide considers the condition non-DQ if asymptomatic and controlled by diet, but requiring meds or symptomatic requires review and waiver. What is the likelihood of receiving this waiver based on experience? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading! I am an active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multiple training and combat deploym…

If you have fluctuating A1C levels with the highest being 5.7, that technically puts you right at the bottom of "pre-diabetic" range. Most doctors would say, hey you need to monitor that and change diet etc to lower that value before you get closer to actual diabetic range. I also think the FAA requires you to fill out a special form with your AME if you are in the pre-diabetic range. Are there any Air Force specific requirements, further testing, or waivers needed if you are in the pre-diabetic range (but require no medicine and are not experiencing any associated symptoms)? The waiver guide has a huge discussion on pre-diabetes but doesn't say anything specifi…

I just completed my IFC1 exam and was DQ'd due to cycloplegic refractive error. Everything else was fine and was approved for FC1A, flight med said they'd send up a waiver request. My cycloplegic refractive error is -4.00 in both eyes and my vision correctable to 20/15 in both eyes. Does anyone think my waiver has a possibility of getting approved?

I am a traditional reservist and coming up on my annual PHA. The med group did a search for my previous Tricare authorizations/referrals and based on that, it sounds like they want me to sign release forms so they can access those medical records from my civilian doctors. I have seen several different types of doctors for varying issues over the past year, but not diagnosed with anything, so I don't have anything to hide; however, it concerns me to just sign blanket waivers for these records. One reason is I know how ridiculously long it takes for them to request the records, receive them, look them over, send to HQ to look them over, realize there is a required test t…

Does anyone here have experience with dry eye and getting your pilot physical at Wright Patterson? I've got symptoms of dry eye that are unconfirmed by a doctor, mainly that I just have to use eye drops after waking up because my eyes are dry, or after hours looking at a bright computer screen in low humidity. I have my physical scheduled in a few months, and I want to tackle this so it has the least chance of causing me to get DQed. I've read the Air Force Waiver guide on dry eye and it offers a grading system for which grade 1 seems to be hardly an issue, but grade 2+ is unwaiverable for FC1. It doesn't offer a ton of guidance on allowable treatment. Since my sympt…

I am a civilian OTS applicant for Fy19ot3. I have a flight physical schedule for early next month. The other day after my annual dental exam my X-ray found that a root canal I had done a few years ago has failed and I was referred to an endodonist, with which I now have a consult set up for next week. The tooth has not bothered me at all. Since getting the root canal repair is a two step month long process, I will be going to my flight physical prior to the root canal repair, but after the initial consult. What affect will this have on my physical? Will it just not get certified until the repair has been completed, or will it be more extensive? I may not have the repair p…

About two months ago I got into a pretty minor car accident, But have been having a bit of back pain. It doesn't prevent me from being active but does put me in a bit of pain. I've been afraid to get it fully checked out due to fear it could DQ me. Is there anyway if this turns out to be chronic to still pilot? And if it's easily treatable/Goes away how would that effect my chances?

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…

Hello, I was disqualified during my Class I Flight Screening after selection, and I'm currently applying for a Class III now to try and be an ABM. I understand that some conditions are permanently disqualifying from rated positions, but I have no idea if mine is (esophoria). Any idea where I can find out if I can even apply again? I've tried calling AFPC/AETC, and the base that performed the physical, but I haven't gotten much apart from the issue that DQ'd me the first time. If anyone has any info, thank you!

Throwaway account for obvious reasons. I'm a pilot not too long out of my B-course and have been operational for less than a year. I recently developed some respiratory issues that I noticed during regular exercise. I went offline to see a civilian doctor who thinks that it's either some sort of Vocal Cord Dysfunction (not what it sounds like...similar to asthma in concept but symptoms present differently) OR some sort of laryngospasm issue. All of it is exercise induced. It's by no means life threatening but something that is very uncomfortable and I'd like to get treated without paying cash and avoiding the whole permanent DNIF thing. I'm wondering if I do go the s…

Hey all, couldn't really find anything much on this. Is any amount of cauliflower ear DQ for pilots? Does it matter at all unless it affects hearing? Been training jiu-jitsu and wondering if i need to start using ear protection for this reason. Thanks!

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…

My coworkers and I were celebrating after a successful month at work. On a empty stomach, I had one to many drinks and got kicked out the club for falling asleep. When my co-workers found me outside sitting down against the wall, they tried to wake me up. I murmured a few words and was unresponsive after that. They ended up calling the ambulance for precautionary reasons and took me to the hospital. I woke up 4 hours later and went home. Now the question is, on my medical/hospital record its states "Acute Intoxication". I wanted to know if that is disqualifying for a USAF Pilot slot? I'm currently assembling my package for the next civilian rated board. -No Medical H…