Information for Pilots

Taking the pain out of getting your medical certificate

We hope the information provided here will help prevent unnecessary delays in the issuance of your medical certificate.

The FAA now has an online registration system to save you time. So instead of filling out the paperwork when you arrive at office, you can now just logon to the MedXpress system and fill out the application in advance. After you have successfully completed the registration, the system will give you a confirmation number (do not lose that number).

You will need to bring that number with you in order to complete the process. Instead of having to fill out the paper form when you come in for your physical, you just provide us with your confirmation number. When we enter your confirmation number , which acts as your signature, into the AMCS system, all of information you filled out online drops the AMCS system which is the software we use to transmit your exam to the FAA.

Helpful Tips

If you have a medical condition that will require lab work and a note from your physician such as high blood pressure, diabetes, history of a heart attack or any other condition the for which the FAA requires documentation; GET THAT DONE BEFORE YOUR VISIT and bring the paperwork with you. If you don`t know what you will need, call our office or check online, Leftseat.com is an excellent resource.

The FAA electronic system (AMCS) only allows us to hold an exam in the system for 2 weeks, after that we MUST transmit the exam to Oklahoma City. If we do not have the required documentation, then we must defer issuing a certificate.

As you know it can easily take more than two weeks to get an appointment with your physician and then another week to get the required lab work. If you don`t have this documentation completed at the time of your visit, then there is a pretty good chance that you will not get all the required materials back to me before the two week deadline. We will then automatically defer your exam. Oklahoma City will then send you a letter of denial because you have not submitted the required documentation. You will then have to submit the materials to Oklahoma City for review and if it is satisfactory you can expect to receive your medical certificate after a few months.

However, if you have done your homework and have a note from your physician and the required lab work, then in most cases we can issue your certificate at the time of your visit, provided that you have supplied us with all the required documation.

If you have questions about your medical condition or medications and would like to research it before coming for your exam, you can find helpful information at the following websites:

Leftseat

FAA website

Sport Pilot Certificate

The sport pilot certificate does not require an FAA medical certificate only a driver`s license, BUT if you go in for an medical exam and FAIL to pass the exam, then you are not eligible for a sport pilot certificate until such time as you can once again pass an FAA physical exam. For more information on the Sport Pilot Certificate see FlightPhysical

Pilot Medical Certificate Requirments

Summary of FAA medical exam requirements for pilots. All pilots must carry a current medical certificate with when flying. The type of medical exam required varies with the activity.

FAA Medical Exams

• 3rd class required for non commercial pilots and student pilots
• 2nd class required for commercial pilots
• 1st class required for airline pilots (not available through us)

High Blood Pressure

The most common condition pilots have that requires extra documentation is high blood pressure. The documentation requirements are quite simple. You need recent lab results (less than 90 days old) that include a chemistry panel and a lipid panel (cholesterol tests) and you need a note from your physician stating your blood pressure is under control and you are not having any side effects from the medication.

We hope you find this information helpful.

Stephen Smith, M.D.