Category

FAA Aviation Medical

Every pilot of a manned aircraft needs an FAA medical certificate issued by a designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) under 14 CFR Part 67. There are three classes: Class 1 (required for ATP work, renewed every 6-12 months depending on age), Class 2 (commercial pilot, renewed every 12 months), and Class 3 (private and recreational, renewed every 24-60 months). BasicMed (14 CFR Part 68) is an alternative for already-certificated pilots flying non-commercially. This section covers what the AME exam actually involves, how to handle special issuances for conditions like color vision, ADHD, sleep apnea, SSRIs, or cardiovascular history, and what to do if you get deferred or denied.