Loading Page...

What medical test do pilots take?

How to Get Your Pilot Medical Certificate? The Airman Medical Certificate is obtained after completion of a satisfactory physical exam conducted by an Aviation Medical Examiner, or AME. The AME tests vision, hearing, general health, and cardiovascular health.



Pilots must undergo a rigorous physical examination to obtain a Medical Certificate, which varies in depth based on the "Class" required (First, Second, or Third). A First-Class Medical, required for airline transport pilots, involves a comprehensive review of the cardiovascular system, including an electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect heart abnormalities. The examiner tests visual acuity (must be 20/20 corrected), color vision, and hearing through audiometry. They also check for neurological health, mental health stability, and equilibrium. Laboratory tests typically include a urinalysis to screen for glucose (diabetes) or protein (kidney issues) and a drug screen. For pilots over 40, these evaluations occur every six months to ensure they remain fit for the immense responsibility of flight safety.

People Also Ask

Medical Problems
Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The FAA drug test is the DOT 5 Panel Drug Test consisting of a test for OPI-Opioids (including heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone), PCP-Phencyclidine, AMP-Amphetamines (MAMP-Methamphetamine, MDMA-Ecstasy), COC-Cocaine and THC-Marijuana.

MORE DETAILS

Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin. Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril. Anicholinergics, such as Levsin, Bnetyl, Transderm Scop. Sedating antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Chlorpheniramine, Zyrtec.

MORE DETAILS

The FAA will approve pilots to fly when undergoing treatment with allergy desensitization shots. Pilots should be cautious flying after receiving higher strength/concentration serums to insure they do not have a delayed allergic reaction.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The answer is YES – you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot! Perfect uncorrected vision is not a requirement to be a pilot or an air traffic controller. Glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery are all (with certain limitations) acceptable ways to correct visual acuity problems.

MORE DETAILS

Ideally, becoming a pilot should only take 3 to 4 years, the time it takes to get your Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Getting an education is also good for a consistency of training, so it's preferred to wait to start your journey until you are in a certified school, like LETU.

MORE DETAILS

To fly as a commercial airline pilot, you will need 1500 hours of experience, which can be earned in two years. ATP's accelerated commercial pilot training programs provide a structured timeline and shorten the time it takes to gain experience and meet qualifications.

MORE DETAILS

The short answer is yes – the majority of airlines offer free flights as an employee benefit for pilots and often for their immediate family members. Before applying to an airline for a pilot position, be sure to ask about employee benefits in addition to pilot salary.

MORE DETAILS

According to The May 2021 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for commercial pilots is $99,640 per year. The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $202,180.

MORE DETAILS

The employer is required to immediately remove the pilot from safety sensitive duties, provide a list of Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP), and report the failed test to the FAA within 2 working days. Unfortunately, the employer can also terminate the pilot's job at this time.

MORE DETAILS