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Unsure If You’re Fit to Fly? FAA’s MedGuide Can Help

Version 1.0 contains only approved medications, but future variants will add conditional and unacceptable medications.

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FAA’s online MedGuide tool lists medications it considers acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties. [Credit: FLYING Archive]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine launched "MedGuide," an online tool providing pilots and Air Traffic Control Specialists with information on acceptable medications for flight or safety-related duties, including FAA frequency limits and required wait times.
  • MedGuide currently lists approved medications, detailing initial, subsequent, and discontinuation wait times, and allows users to factor in underlying conditions, thereby addressing a longstanding information gap in aviation medicine.
  • The article also highlights two key legislative initiatives: the Aviation Medication Transparency Act (AMTA) which seeks to mandate comprehensive medication lists for pilots, and the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act (MHAA) aimed at reducing barriers to mental health treatment for aviation professionals.
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The FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine this month introduced an online tool that can tell pilots and Air Traffic Control Specialists which medications are considered acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, partially addressing a longstanding information gap.

The agency on its website says its MedGuide tool is not a stand-in for medical diagnosis or treatment and “should not be used as the sole basis in making aeromedical determinations, which must include an individualized assessment.” But it provides a reference for airman medical certification and ATCS clearance.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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