When it comes to FAA medical certification, certain medical conditions can pose too great a risk to aviation safety. These are known as disqualifying medical conditions…
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operate under fundamentally different mandates. The VA assigns disability ratings to compensate veterans…
For military aviators transitioning to civilian life, applying for VA disability compensation while maintaining an FAA medical certificate can feel like walking a tightrope. One wrong…
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Treatment Options for Pilots – Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects approximately 30% of adult males and 15% of adult females in North America…
Active Duty Pilot VA Disabilities – If you’ve submitted a VA disability claim and received a decision letter with a disability rating, you may be wondering…
For individuals with a history of seizures or epilepsy, obtaining an FAA medical certificate can be challenging. The FAA has strict guidelines to ensure the safety…
What is a FAA Medical SODA? A Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) allows pilots with static or nonprogressive medical conditions to qualify for FAA medical certification.…
For Flight Departments, Lost Pilots Mean Lost Revenue Wingman Med Corporate Service- In a Part 135 operation, aircraft must keep moving to generate revenue. Similarly, companies…
CACI for Psoriasis – When it comes to medical certification, the FAA concerns itself with three main considerations. Ruling out the risk of sudden, complete –…
A common question we receive at Wingman Med is, “What sort of medical records do I need for my VA claim?” This question has numerous implied…
“My eyes aren’t good enough to be a pilot.” I’ve heard similar statements from would-be pilots more times than I can count over the past few…
What is HIMS AME? For aspiring pilots and those who have never faced a medical certification challenge, navigating the FAA medical certificate application process may seem…
Military veterans with medical disabilities who began or were aggravated during their military service can file a claim for VA disability benefits at any time. The…
The FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM 300) is effectively broken down into four interworking groups[1]: Headquarters in Washington, DC Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in…
CACI for Low Testosterone – Testosterone supplementation has been on the rise and in the news during recent years [1]. Some of that rise followed the…
CACIs and FAA Red Tape – Pilots love to hate the FAA. To be sure, it has a well-earned reputation for imposing red tape and onerous…
CACI for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, aka PCOS, counts as one of the most common endocrine disorders. It affects somewhere between 5 and…
C&P Exams DBQs VA Disability – Requesting disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is easy. If you spend some time writing down a…
Lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma are two interrelated but distinct types of cancer that affect lymphocytes, a subtype of white blood cells integral to the immune system.…
Head or Brain? FAA Medical Traumatic Brain Injury – It is essential to distinguish between an injury to the surface of your head and an injury…
Glaucoma is a relatively common eye condition that causes progressive vision loss and blindness. The risk of developing the condition is closely associated with age and…
The Deferral Process FAA Medical Deferral Process – Every FAA medical exam has three possible outcomes. You can be issued or denied your medical certificate, or…
CACI for Thrombocytopenia – Several different things make what we call blood. Red blood cells are likely the most commonly considered item, given that they provide…
CACI for Asthma – Asthma affects about 13% of the population and ranks the most common lung disease in the United States [1,2]. While many children…
Discussions about high altitude flying usually revolve around the use of oxygen and with good reason. Part 91 oxygen requirements apply as you climb above 12,500…
VA C&P Exams Risky for Pilots – When you file a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Claim, you will be given the option to pick…
“Sleep” aids and why they are bad Beware of Accidental Sedating Medications – In general, the FAA does not approve sleep aids for regular use for…
Pilots – often understandably – like to debate the wisdom of the FAA’s medical certification policies. Whether considering well-controlled chronic conditions like high blood pressure and…
More than 70 percent of US adults are obese or overweight [1]. That fact alone makes weight control arguably the most common health-related concern in the…
Coronary Artery Disease OSA and Diabetes – One of our mantras is that if you’re safe to fly, the FAA will probably agree with you. True…
Disqualifying Conditions Heart Valve Replacement – The Code of Federal Regulations 14 CFR 67 lists out the specifically disqualifying conditions for FAA medical certification. One of…
VA disability ratings – The topic of VA ratings is always a popular one as servicemembers approach separation or retirement. Of all the questions I am…
FAA Medicals for Pilots with ADHD – On August 30, 2023, the FAA announced its “ADHD Fast Track” certification process for pilots with a history of…
Musculoskeletal Problems VA Disability – Just about everyone who ever served in the military has musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pain absolutely should be included in your VA…
The 15-month case should not have been FAA Medical Certification Delay – One of our clients should have been issued their certificate on the day of…
Do You Need Wingman Med – Look around on a forum, Reddit, or Facebook group when people ask about what they should do about their medical…
It took how long? PTSD and Flying – 506 days. This is how long it took Jason* to get his medical after he went to the…
How to Get VA C&P Exam Results – Military pilots face a unique challenge as they transition to civilian flying careers. Like all veterans, they are…
FAA Medical Affect VA Disabilities – Over the past year, the FAA has taken a focused interest in veterans with disabilities who apply for FAA medical…
CACI for Bladder Cancer – Bladder cancer ranks as the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world and accounts for about 1 in every 24…
HIPAA and Your FAA Exam – A frequent question we get at Wingman Med is about how and why the FAA is entitled to their medical…
Telling FAA About New Medical Condition – No pilot looks forward to their medical certificate application with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Flight physicals are inherently…
The Roadmap to Quick Certification Doctor’s Note for FAA – We have previously discussed how to fill out your MedXPress to reduce the number of questions…
CACI for Renal Cancer – Renal cancer describes a rather broad range of more specific diagnoses that give rise to tumor growth in the kidney. Within…
Depression FAA Flight Physical – Many people – pilots included – will struggle with depression at some point in their lives. About 8.4% of people will…
TV Shows and Movies Tell the Truth on Your FAA Medical – Shots ring out in the city. Sirens blare. Emergency response vehicles are rolling. Police…
With some very rare exceptions, the FAA should NEVER take more than six months to a year to review your medical certificate application. That might seem…
What the FAA wants Direct Primary Care Physician for Pilots – Regardless of the medical condition, the FAA wants a current (within 90 days of your…
CACI Colitis FAA IBS IBD – Colitis is a broad, non-specific term that refers generally to any condition that causes inflammation of the large intestine, or…
In our initial article on disqualifying conditions we laid out the entire list of federally mandated disqualifying medical conditions. There are ways that the FAA can…