Is it hard to pass a flight physical?

Most people pass the aviation medical exam without a problem. Pilots with certain medical conditions may require a special issuance medical certificate, which means that the doctor must submit your application to the FAA for review.



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The FAA medical certificate disqualifying conditions include:
  • Angina pectoris. ...
  • Bipolar disease. ...
  • Cardiac valve replacement. ...
  • Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant. ...
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications.


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Before Your FAA Medical Examination
  1. Get plenty of rest SLEEP HYGIENE.
  2. Drink plenty of water the day of the exam.
  3. Avoid foods/beverages with caffeine, sodium or carbohydrates/sugar at least 8 hrs prior to the exam.
  4. Avoid eating at least 4 hrs prior to the exam.


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The flight physical takes about 30 minutes and involves several steps, including: Checking your eyesight and hearing. Performing a complete physical examination of your body including your head, torso, and extremities. Checking your vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

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Usually not. However, some weather conditions can cause turbulence and up and downdrafts such that an airplane can not be controlled completely; that makes me nervous. The pilot can usually keep the pitch about right, but the airspeed will be going all over the place.

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Since the 1930s, airlines have been aware of the impact of fatigue on pilot's cognitive abilities and decision making. Nowadays prevalence of fatigue draws greater attention because of boom in air travel and because the problem can be addressed with new solutions and countermeasures.

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A routine part of the FAA medical exam is a urinalysis to check for sugar or protein, indicators of possible diabetes or kidney disease. Even as a commercial pilot participating in the DOT/FAA drug testing program, a drug test is done independent of an aviation medical examination.

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The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.

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One important issue was how to ensure that the co-pilot didn't also accidentally fall asleep. This has been a real concern for many years in aviation, with some studies reporting that as much as 50% of pilots accidentally fall asleep during flights.

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The accepted answer says: If a pilot is not rested enough to safely operate the aircraft, they should not fly.

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Shortly after take-off, the first pilot(s) will head to the bunks to sleep for a set period of time, before rotating with the other pilots. The rest is typically distributed evenly amongst the crew, before all the pilots return to the flight deck approximately 1 hour before landing.

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Pilots with a fear of heights aren't uncommon and in fact, the majority of people who are afraid of heights aren't affected by flying in an aircraft. There is a strong feeling of security when you close the door, and you should feel very comfortable in the hands of an experienced instructor.

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He told Newsweek that, logistically, people have no reason to fear flying because planes are robust, endure rigorous checks and are built to safely transport passengers from one location to another. For starters, planes never just drop out of the sky, Yon said.

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Airline pilots take turns using the bathroom nearest the cockpit during a flight. There are no bathrooms installed in the cockpit. For airplanes with a single pilot, diapers, catheters, or collection devices are used if they are unable to land to use the airport bathroom.

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Psychological problems can onset at any time during a pilot's career making it important procedures are in place to identify pilots with mental health conditions or impaired brain function.

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