What Can I Expect During a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Exam?

It doesn’t matter what level of flying you intend to do as a pilot; you must obtain medical clearance in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) rules. You’ll need an FAA medical certificate provided by a certified aviation medical examiner (AME) before completing your solo flight licensing requirements. 

Dr. Richard Blanchar, the medical director of Bayview General Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, is a certified senior AME, so we can deliver the level of medical certificate you need to satisfy FAA requirements. 

Why is an FAA exam necessary? 

The FAA has a safety commitment to assure the fitness of pilots flying in the United States. As part of this commitment, the FAA developed standards for medical certification that a pilot must meet to be licensed to fly. 

Medical practitioners who perform FAA exams are certified to do so. An AME has a series of physical and mental health parameters to verify before approving a pilot for one of three levels of certification. These levels are: 

1. First-class: for passenger airline pilots
2. Second-class: for commercial pilots
3. Third-class: for students, private pilots, and recreational pilots

Each certification class has unique approval standards, though there is much overlap between them. Passenger airline pilots have the most stringent certification requirements. 

What can I expect during an FAA exam?

The medical exam for FAA certification isn’t a simple rubber-stamp formality; it’s a comprehensive evaluation of your fitness to fly, and it’s important to take your exam seriously. 

Much depends on Dr. Blanchar’s observations, so prepare appropriately. As you approach your exam date, consider the following: 

• Review your medical history and make notes if necessary for full disclosure
• Maintain a restful sleep cycle in the days before your exam
• Discontinue caffeinated beverages and stimulant medications like decongestants for 48 hours before testing for the most accurate results
• Avoid heavy meals and sugary snacks that might skew urinalysis testing
• Bring your regular corrective lenses to your appointment
• If you have medical changes to your history since your previous FAA exam, like health conditions or surgery, bring any related documentation

You can complete your exam in about 30 minutes. Dr. Blanchar reviews your history and asks questions about your health and lifestyle while observing your physical appearance and movement. 

We test the basics, such as vital signs, eyesight, heart health, hearing, and balance. Dr. Blanchar assesses your mental and neurological condition and orders lab testing, such as urinalysis and possibly blood work. 

The higher the class of certification you need, the more thorough you can expect your exam to be. 

Your results

After lab results return, Dr. Blanchar makes one of three determinations about your status: 

• Approved: you’re medically fit for the certification class for which you tested
• Denied: you fail to meet the minimum requirements for your certification class, though this status can be appealed to the FAA
• Deferred: this represents a finding that some aspect of your condition isn’t flight-safe, but that can be remedied with changes like switching medications or further testing

When you need an FAA exam or other federal government medical testing, count on Bayview General Medicine. You can book your exam online or by phone. Arrange your appointment today.