Self-Assess Your Medical State

Pia Bergqvist

Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 05:07 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are personally responsible for assessing their physical and mental fitness to fly safely, even as regulations may shift from medical certificates to driver's license self-assessment.
The FAA has identified specific medical conditions (e.g., angina, psychosis, substance abuse) that automatically disqualify pilots from flying, requiring them to cease operations if diagnosed.
Pilots should use the "I'M SAFE" checklist (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion) for a thorough self-assessment before each flight to ensure optimal readiness.
Strict adherence to alcohol guidelines is crucial, as the "eight hours bottle to throttle" rule is often insufficient, with impairment potentially lasting 48 hours or more.

See a mistake? Contact us.

So far, all pilots other than those flying under light sport pilot rules must possess a medical certificate in order to fly legally. These regulations may soon change and you may be able to fly with a driver’s license and by self-assessment of whether you are fit to fly. Whether you have a medical certificate or not, there are many conditions that you should pay attention to. The bottom line is this: If anything to do with your physical or mental state threatens your ability to fly safely, you should not fly.

There are certain medical conditions that the FAA has identified that automatically disqualify you from flying as pilot in command. These conditions include such a wide range of ailments as angina pectoris, psychosis, substance abuse, unexplained disturbances of consciousness and many more. While light sport pilots are exempt from the medical certificate requirements, they still must restrict themselves from flying if they have these kinds of medical conditions. If you find out that you have one of these conditions and your medical certificate is still valid, you must stop flying. It is your responsibility to learn more about these disorders. If you are unsure whether you suffer from a condition that prohibits flight, consult a designated medical examiner.