For pilots, an FAA medical certificate is more than a document. It represents the ability to fly, pursue a career, support a family and remain connected to the aviation community. That’s why even a seemingly routine medical issue can create significant uncertainty. Most pilots have heard the horror stories of colleagues who faced unexpected delays, […]
Medications, Pilots, & Flight Matthew M. Cooper, MD MBA FACS FAsMA FCAMA CPL CFI Contained in the “IMSAFE” checklist that pilots should complete at a minimum during the planning phase and before flight is the use of medications and their potential impact on pilot performance and safety. […]
Medical Risk and Flying: Perspective and Management Matthew M. Cooper, MD MBA FACS FAsMA FCAMA CPL CFI Medical conditions affect all of us at one time or another – rare is the exception. As pilots, we react especially because we grow concerned that our medical, our ticket to fly, may be jeopardized. […]
Many resources appear helpful to pilots navigating the FAA’s medical certification maze, but danger often hides behind good intentions. The reality is that most of these resources—despite legal or medical credentials—have little experience dealing with the FAA’s intricate, unforgiving certification system. Success requires more than professional training; it demands firsthand experience battling through bureaucratic […]
Pilots with disqualifying medical conditions are often eligible for FAA medical certification waivers through Special Issuance medical certification. The medical certificate, and Special Issuance authorization, typically provides the same operational piloting authority but can carry certain limitations such as the date of expiration. Typically this requires extensive documentation and decisions are made on a case […]
If there is one thing on which most pilots agree, it is their disdain for the FAA’s medical certification process. There is almost always a seemingly unreasonable delay to process anything with the Aeromedical Certification Division and some tests required by the FAA are invasive and expensive prompting even physicians to balk at the costs […]
1. Pilots on Coumadin (Anticoagulation therapy) For applicants who are just beginning Warfarin (Coumadin) treatment the following is required by the FAA: ◦Minimum observation time of 6 weeks after initiation of warfarin therapy; ◦Must also meet any required observation time for the underlying condition; AND ◦6 INRs, no more frequently than 1 per week For […]
PILOT MEDICAL SOLUTIONSEffective Flight Fitness Habits for Pilots Be Proactive About FAA Medical CertificationSuccessful pilots plan ahead. LeftSeat.com offers practical tools to make that process smoother—checklists for choosing the right Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), practice FAA medical exams, and a searchable medication list with an inquiry portal to confirm FAA acceptance. Get a Free Aeromedical […]
MORE PILOTS FLYING DESPITE NEW PILOT DECREASE (revised November 2025) Pilot Medical Solutions is helping more new pilots despite reductions in airman employment opportunities June 23, 2025 – The government shutdowns always fun, the subsequent backlogs create a solid choke-point. Following the Post-Pandemic Surge, airlines and corporate flight departments employment opportunities have decreased. However, the […]
