Failed PEPC Medical?

jess90

New Member
Does anyone know what the procedure is if you fail a portion of the PEPC medical? I know some things are an obvious instant DQ like the drug test or a history of certain illnesses, but what if you come slightly high on blood pressure or just miss the vision or hearing test for example? Are you finished right there, or do you get a chance to re-take a portion of the test or have any special consideration?
 
Does anyone know what the procedure is if you fail a portion of the PEPC medical? I know some things are an obvious instant DQ like the drug test or a history of certain illnesses, but what if you come slightly high on blood pressure or just miss the vision or hearing test for example? Are you finished right there, or do you get a chance to re-take a portion of the test or have any special consideration?

I was close on blood pressure. It was actually too high when they first tested me.. I spent the whole day worrying about it while doing other things like the mmpi, hearing and drug test... they retook it later in the day and I passed. I asked the nurse what would have happened if I failed and she said I would have had to see a doctor at home to see if it is controllable. But they were not going to fail you on the spot... I wish I would have known this because I was so worried the whole day after I was high the first time.
 
Does anyone know what the procedure is if you fail a portion of the PEPC medical? I know some things are an obvious instant DQ like the drug test or a history of certain illnesses, but what if you come slightly high on blood pressure or just miss the vision or hearing test for example? Are you finished right there, or do you get a chance to re-take a portion of the test or have any special consideration?

I didn't pass the vision test at the Kansas City PEPC on 11/18/08. At the end of the entire day, you meet one-on-one with a Regional Flight Surgeon who reviews all of your individual exams and on a top-level scale overall passes you or sends you home to get additional testing with a specialist. In my case, I needed to meet with an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) and fax a completed FAA Form 8500-7 (http://forms.faa.gov/forms/faa8500-7.pdf) back to the Central Region medical division.

Another thread about my experience can be found here: http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/72886-eye-test-during-medical-exam.html

The eye doctor I visited wrote down all of the objective test results that the form asks for, and in a Comments/Suggestions section, he noted that my ability to work as an air traffic controller should not be affected by my vision. Now I'm waiting for notification of a medical clearance after additional consideration. It may take longer to receive a Final Offer Letter, but better late than never. We are the masters at the waiting game!
 
All of my medical at the PEPC checked out fine untill the Flight surgeon checked over one of my papers that asked "do you or have you ever had, experienced, or been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, etc?". I checked yes because at my last doctors visit I told my doctor that I had been stressed at work and having anxiety. The Flight Surgeon then asked for me to have my doctor fax over his notes of that visit, adding that it shouldn't be a problem, he just has to make sure he looks further into situations that include stress.

I sure wish I never told my doctor about that, because it wasn't even a huge deal. I was really just going through a breakup with someone at work. Now my medical is being held up untill my "too busy" doctor has time to fax his notes, which he just faxed yesturday. Here's to more waiting.
 
Isnt it the same as a second class medical? I had my medical taken by the FAA 4 years ago and it was a long process to get it back.. I can now hold a first class... no restrictions whatsoever. It was loss of conciousness by the way. Anyway, I have a letter from the federal air surgeon stating so.. do you think this little hiccup will affect me if and when I get to the medical ATC exam?
 
Isnt it the same as a second class medical? I had my medical taken by the FAA 4 years ago and it was a long process to get it back.. I can now hold a first class... no restrictions whatsoever. It was loss of conciousness by the way. Anyway, I have a letter from the federal air surgeon stating so.. do you think this little hiccup will affect me if and when I get to the medical ATC exam?
Nope. It's already in the FAA's system. When I filled out my exam paperwork (the same medical form done for all faa physicals) it asks if the condition or whatever was already reported to the faa.
 
Nope. It's already in the FAA's system. When I filled out my exam paperwork (the same medical form done for all faa physicals) it asks if the condition or whatever was already reported to the faa.

I didn't pay attention at the PEPC because it didn't apply to me.. but I heard the medical girls telling everyone like 10 times "No one check the box "previously reported" because you have never previously reported ANYTHING for the medical for which you are applying.... this is a brand new medical."

Not sure what that means, or if its relevant to what you all are talking about.. but just thought I'd throw that out there.
 
I didn't pass the vision test at the Kansas City PEPC on 11/18/08. At the end of the entire day, you meet one-on-one with a Regional Flight Surgeon who reviews all of your individual exams and on a top-level scale overall passes you or sends you home to get additional testing with a specialist. In my case, I needed to meet with an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) and fax a completed FAA Form 8500-7 (http://forms.faa.gov/forms/faa8500-7.pdf) back to the Central Region medical division.

Another thread about my experience can be found here: http://forums.jetcareers.com/ask-flight-surgeon/72886-eye-test-during-medical-exam.html

The eye doctor I visited wrote down all of the objective test results that the form asks for, and in a Comments/Suggestions section, he noted that my ability to work as an air traffic controller should not be affected by my vision. Now I'm waiting for notification of a medical clearance after additional consideration. It may take longer to receive a Final Offer Letter, but better late than never. We are the masters at the waiting game!

I had to fill out the same form, even though I tested uncorrected 20/20 at the PEPC. It's that history of LASIK that did it... but I had it filled out and faxed in the day after the PEPC (I was expecting this so had the appointment all lined up weeks before the PEPC) so hopefully it doesn't hold things up too much.
 
I didn't pay attention at the PEPC because it didn't apply to me.. but I heard the medical girls telling everyone like 10 times "No one check the box "previously reported" because you have never previously reported ANYTHING for the medical for which you are applying.... this is a brand new medical."

Not sure what that means, or if its relevant to what you all are talking about.. but just thought I'd throw that out there.
Hmm. Odd. But I did my physical with an AME contracted by the FAA here locally, since I chose the local interview route. So who knows. I just filled out the form as I read it.
 
Hmm. Odd. But I did my physical with an AME contracted by the FAA here locally, since I chose the local interview route. So who knows. I just filled out the form as I read it.

Yeah I *think* what they were getting at... is once you get the medical.. and you go every so often to get it renewed you use that box. But they kept going on and on about people with previous medicals to list everything and not check that box because this was a new medical. At that point I started to tune them out because I just wanted to quickly fill out my paperwork and get ahead of everyone else... LOL it worked too! :)
 
I didn't pay attention at the PEPC because it didn't apply to me.. but I heard the medical girls telling everyone like 10 times "No one check the box "previously reported" because you have never previously reported ANYTHING for the medical for which you are applying.... this is a brand new medical."

Not sure what that means, or if its relevant to what you all are talking about.. but just thought I'd throw that out there.


I thought really hard about going that route with my asthma but then again I have a first class medical and previous other airmen medicals on file with the FAA reporting asthma. Now I know the airmen and atc are different files in the FAA's eyes, I didn't want to take the chance of them stumbling across my airmen file and be screwed out of a job down the line. Just wish I never reported asthma, which is not a real issue for me, on any of my previous airmen medicals.
 
Hi all,

Im on meds for high blood pressure and its under control with those meds and I was asking the flight surgeon about it and this is what he said...

"They want exact names and doses. Any medicine for blood pressure is DQ for new applicants for ATC the way I read the standards. "

Does the "DQ" mean disqualifying for a new applicant? I cant apply for ATC if Im on meds for high blood pressure? Anyone know if this is right?
 
I had kidney stones a while back. They allowed my urologist to send over notes and 1 extra exam to prove I was "stone free." I had to appeal a denial though. I am still waiting on a response back from the Flight Surgeon. The doc said I was stone free. So I should be good to go.
 
My husband had to get a LOT of new information for them regarding this and that...the biggest concern being that he has higher than normal liver enzyme levels. There is no explanation of WHY the levels are high. He has never drank a sip of alcohol and that isn't just him telling me that, we grew up together and were best of friends before we even went on a romantic date. He also tested negative on fatty liver. They did find out that although his levels are high, they are in the same place and aren't going up or down at all. We had to get a bunch of tests for him done when he got back to SLC and a doctors note showing all this. We had 30 days to get it all done and submitted.

I think you might be surprised what does pass. My husband has a guy in his class that was a professional pilot but lost his first class medical due to getting diabetes (he actually had worked with my husband's brother at the airline). He applied for ATC and was afforded a medical for ATC. You just never know what will happen. The best thing I can tell you is, BE HONEST.

FYI -if you have EVER filled out an Airmen form, make SURE to note everything on the ATC form that has been noted on any other airmen form. They will pull those and make sure that all the information matches! And since this is a new ATC form not a form for flying you must STATE it all not just mark as previously noted! My husband marked the box of as previously noted and they made him write it all out since it was a "new type rating" (ATC) being requested.
 
Well, looks like I get to share my own bizarre medical story!!

I call today to get the status on my medical and I find out it was deferred. Make a long story short, the Regional Flight Surgeon's office says that the AME deferred the physical because of my mention of my knee surgery from 3 years previous. I call the doc's office, and they say there is nothing in the doc's notes about deferring the medical. I brought it up to him and he, like the doc who did my 2nd class medical back in September, did a quick test to check my range of motion and found no issues. Fortunately the doc's office is willing to look into this and the lady I spoke to on the phone said she will discuss this with the doc and the Regional Flight Surgeon's office tomorrow to see what needs to be done to straighten this out. She said that she couldn't see any good reason why a 3 year old knee surgery (which doesn't even bother me any more!) would cause any problems with an ATC physical of all things!

So now I'm getting to jump through hoops to fix what amounts to be a clerical error. :banghead:
 
Hi all,

Im on meds for high blood pressure and its under control with those meds and I was asking the flight surgeon about it and this is what he said...

"They want exact names and doses. Any medicine for blood pressure is DQ for new applicants for ATC the way I read the standards. "

Does the "DQ" mean disqualifying for a new applicant? I cant apply for ATC if Im on meds for high blood pressure? Anyone know if this is right?

I'd have to say that the FS was wrong about it being an automatic DQ (if that means disqualifying), given what a previous poster stated about only needing confirmaiton that his BP could be controlled, but who knows I guess. I'm in the same boat you are. I was just brought onto BP meds a month ago, though mine is mostly due to being overweight, but the meds have really done wonders.
 
I am getting ready to go to a PEPC soon and I am wondering with the Medical info do they automatically request your doctor's notes from back home??? I mean if I had Diabetes or any mental illness what is stopping me from simply not writing it down when I am at the PEPC?? Do they only pull your records if you state the information on the form? I went to my doctor back home like 6 years ago for anxiety and I don't want me checking that box now to hold up this already long process!!
 
hah28713:

I see what you're getting at but you need to be honest. Although your medical history may be disqualifying, lying about it will be disqualifying.
 
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