My Flight Surgeon
Sr. Aviation Medical Examiner
This is one of a series of posts about medical issues potentially affecting a pilot’s ability to obtain a medical certificate. In this series, we will look at common problems seen by the AME, review the requirements the FAA has to consider allowing one to fly and discuss what you need to do to expedite consideration by the FAA to allow you to fly.
I would suggest that if you are unsure of how to answer these questions in Item 18, you discuss them with your AME before you complete the form. Some things may not be significant while others will require explanation.
Item 18.x. Other illness, disability, or surgery
The applicant should describe the nature of these illnesses in the EXPLANATIONS box. The concern is the potentially disqualifying conditions that may have caused the hospitalization, i.e., a heart attack. The AME should discuss positive answers with the airman and if additional records, tests, or specialty reports are necessary in order to make a certification decision, the applicant should so be advised. If the applicant does not wish to provide the information requested by the Examiner, the Examiner should defer issuance.
This is usually not a significant problem.
* Italicized text is from FAA documents
I would suggest that if you are unsure of how to answer these questions in Item 18, you discuss them with your AME before you complete the form. Some things may not be significant while others will require explanation.
Item 18.x. Other illness, disability, or surgery
The applicant should describe the nature of these illnesses in the EXPLANATIONS box. The concern is the potentially disqualifying conditions that may have caused the hospitalization, i.e., a heart attack. The AME should discuss positive answers with the airman and if additional records, tests, or specialty reports are necessary in order to make a certification decision, the applicant should so be advised. If the applicant does not wish to provide the information requested by the Examiner, the Examiner should defer issuance.
This is usually not a significant problem.
* Italicized text is from FAA documents
