In the latest episode of the Pilot Minute, Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, MD, outlines a new option for AMEs to issue medical certificates for pilots with head injuries.
Medical
FAA updates BasicMed
More passengers, larger aircraft, and more are in the update.
Pilot Minute: Why should I be concerned about herbal remedies?
In the latest Pilot Minute video from the FAA, Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup lists five herbal remedies and supplements that are not acceptable for medical certification — Kava, Kratom, Rauwolfia, Valerian, and Cannabis — and their effects on aviation safety.
Can I get my medical approved if I used to be on medication for ADHD?
In a recent episode of the Pilot Minute, a video series from the FAA, Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, MD, explains a new option allowing AMEs to issue a medical certificate for pilots who have been on ADHD medications.
Pilot Minute: Can I take a weight loss drug and still fly?
In a recent Pilot Minute video from Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, she looks into whether a pilot can take one of the popular weight loss medications that are all the rage now and still fly.
Once on BasicMed, do you ever have to see an AME again?
In a video posted Jan. 18, 2024, of the FAA series “Pilot Minute,” Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, MD, goes over requirements for BasicMed and the mental health, neurologic, or cardiac conditions that would require a pilot — by law — to be reexamined by an FAA designee Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
NTSB summit focuses on pilot mental health
“Everyone should feel safe speaking up, getting the mental health care they need, regardless of their profession. Aviation should be no different, and yet it is different,” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. “Current federal rules incentivize people to either lie about their needs or avoid seeking help in the first place — and that’s not safe for anyone.”
The pilot population is getting younger
The average age of a pilot who holds a medical certificate is 39.6 years.
Video: Are you fit for flight?
“When it comes to your airman medical status, just how honest and thorough are you when filling out that MedExpress or BasicMed form?” FAA officials ask in the video’s introduction. “Are you telling your AME everything he or she needs to know? If you are gaming the system, it’s time to come clean.”