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Mayo Clinic Concept: Remote Flight Physicals

As the field of AMEs continues to thin and demand for FAA medical certification rises, kiosk-based flight physicals could make a lot of sense.

A screen grab from the MedWand Solutions Virtual Care Clinic software displaying real-time data from an electronic stethoscope.
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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA's pilot medical certification system is facing an impending collapse due to a critical shortage of Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) and extensive processing delays, leading to capable pilots being grounded.
  • The Mayo Clinic's Aerospace Medicine department is pioneering a virtual flight physical concept, leveraging biometric kiosks and remote AMEs, to address this crisis and streamline the certification process.
  • Currently in proof-of-concept stages, this innovative system aims to provide a more accessible pathway for healthier pilots to obtain medicals, though it is not intended to replace in-person exams for all complex medical conditions.
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The respected Mayo Clinic’s Aerospace Medicine department seems the perfect clinical advisor to the FAA, particularly at a time when the agency’s medical certification division can’t seem to keep up with demand.

Moreover, with large health care companies buying up mom-and-pop medical practices, there’s a huge shortage of AMEs available to administer exams and issue medical certificates. That’s grounding otherwise capable and fit pilots. With virtual medical visits common in the pedestrian world, why not virtual visits with AMEs, too?

Larry Anglisano

Larry Anglisano is the former Editor in Chief of sister publication Aviation Consumer magazine. He's an active land, sea and glider pilot, and has over 30 years experience as an avionics tech.

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