Mayo Clinic Clear Approach

On this episode, we discuss a couple of conditions not commonly seen in pilots but which can make a difference in terms of aeromedical certification.  We look at pectus excavatum, otherwise known as "funnel chest," and how pilots with speech impediments can still qualify for their FAA medical certificate.

LADA, or latent autoimmune diabetes of adults, is often misdiagnosed and is sometimes called "diabetes 1.5." On this episode, we'll review what LADA is, what to look for, and how it affects aeromedical certification.

Pacemakers are amazing devices that can help regulate heart rhythms, synchronize arrhythmias, and can be career saving for certain pilots.   On this episode, we discuss certification requirements for aviators who will need Special Issuance Authorization for pacemakers.  A little preparation goes a long way.

Psoriasis is a chronic and incurable condition involving the skin that is sometime associated with arthritis and other autoimmune conditions.  There are a variety of treatments for this disease and we discuss aeromedical implications to minimize delays in certification. 

In the process of conducting dozens of flight physicals, there are questions that periodically come up when filling out the medical application form.  On this episode, we review some of those head-scratching anecdotes and how to efficiently complete the process.

On this episode, we review aeromedical certification requirements for a relatively uncommon disease called hemochromatosis --  a condition that involves elevated iron levels in the blood that can result in liver failure and may affect multiple other organs. Screened and taken care of early, it is completely controllable but left unchecked, can result in significant problems.  We review the treatment and what is required of pilots with this condition.

In this episode, we go single pilot and cover one of the most common valvular heart issues -- mitral valve regurgitation. For stable established cases of mild severity, a pilot might not even need Special Issuance Authorization.  CACI qualification is possible, and if appropriate testing is obtained ahead of the time of the flight physical, aeromedical certification is a streamlined, painless process.

Drones, love 'em or hate 'em, are here to stay. The FAA announced groundbreaking approvals this week for commercial drone operations of delivery packages involving unmanned aircraft outside the sight line of drone operators -- paving the way for packages to be delivered remotely to your doorstep using drones operated by pilots miles away. With these changes come issues and a litany of considerations -- from safety to airspace congestion to cooperation of competing firms sharing the same airspace. 

Kidney stones are estimated to affect one in 10 individuals and are a common source of aeromedical certification questions from pilots. On this episode we also discuss what these stones are, how they are produced, and how they are diagnosed and treated. Then we cover how to prepare when it comes time to reporting a kidney stone on your FAA medical application. 

On this episode, we reflect on EAA's AirVenture 2024, Boeing's forecast for the future of personnel needs in the field of aviation, and CACI qualification criteria for chronic Hepatitis C.

One of the most common medical conditions encountered by pilots is elevated blood pressure.  On this episode we discuss what is allowed for maximum blood pressure levels, what medications are approved, and the options available to pilots who find themselves dealing with hypertension.