Getting a Medical
The very first thing that you should do as you begin your aviation journey is to get your medical certificate.
Without a medical certificate, your aviation goals cannot pass beyond getting you prepared for your first solo flight in an aircraft.*
A medical certificate is granted from an Aviation Medical Examiner(commonly shortened to AME), a doctor that has been empowered by the Federal Aviation Administration (the FAA from here on out, welcome to aviation, we have acronyms). For most people, getting one is fairly simple. You go to the AME, they run a slightly more in depth physical on you, you are given a clean enough bill of health and you walk out of there holding your certificate.
There are three types of Medical Certificate. The following is a practical guide for those looking to get started in aviation- not necessarily study material for your Private Pilot or Commercial rides about the privileges of the medicals.
The 1st Class Medical Certificate:
-This is the highest level of medical available. If you dream of flying a for an airline, charter company, cargo operator, etc…You will need a 1st Class Medical.
-I highly advise getting this upfront before you even think of beginning flight training with the goal of flying for money one day.
The 2nd Class Medical Certificate:
- You can work some jobs with a 2nd Class Medical, however most operators that you legally could work at with a 2nd Class often still require a 1st Class because of their insurance. If you want to make money flying, just go for your 1st Class.
The 3rd Class Medical Certificate:
-If you have no current intention of pursuing this field for a salary, get the 3rd class.
Whatever you do, get a Medical Certificate before spending money at a flight school. Some will require it up front anyway, I find that a good thing in the realm of consumer protection. Others will allow you to flight train until you are ready for your solo and then require you to show a Medical. In my humble opinion, there is no point in spending thousands of dollars in training getting prepared to solo, just to find out you can’t because your medical was deferred or denied.
2. Common Pitfalls to getting a Medical:
There are many common pitfalls to getting a medical. Some of them will stay between you and the FAA if you are successful in overcoming the deferral process. Others are going to be things that you will have to defend for your entire aviation career. If you know that you have one of these pitfalls in your history, I recommend doing a consultation visit with an AME. A consultation will allow an AME to tell you your chances and the road ahead, if possible, to get your medical. A consultation does not exist as far as the FAA is concerned and is a good tool to use if you have something in your history that could be a roadblock to getting a medical.
Mental Health Concerns- yes even your garden variety ADHD, Anxiety, or Depression.
Criminal History- some crimes are absolute non-starters.
Alcohol and Drug related arrests or issues.- I made this a separate category for a reason. The FAA has a very strict, and in my belief, reasonable policy on former drug and alcohol abusers. Especially if your issue led to an arrest and conviction. More so if you were behind the wheel. To the FAA, your willingness to drive drunk or high directly reflects on the likelihood that you will fly drunk or high.
Physical Health Concerns- issues associated with the brain and heart, or things that might cause a loss of consciousness are understandably on the FAA’s radar.
Colorblindness: Myself and many pilots I know wear glasses and contacts. Some have had laser surgery. Eyesight is not the problem it once was, as long as it is correctable. Colorblindness unfortunately remains an issue and a colorblindness test is part of the medical exam.
This is not an exhaustive list. I highly recommend Googling whatever affliction you are concerned with and “FAA Medical”. The FAA is transparent about the things that they find an issue.
The moral is: if you want to be a pilot, keep your nose clean and stay healthy. For the mental and physical health concerns, there are often pathways to still getting a medical. They might be long and expensive. Even with drugs and alcohol there can be paths forward. Those issues though, they will follow you into job interviews where physical or mental health hurdles to a medical will not.
