Medical and physical requirements for pilots

Whether you're contemplating a personal or professional path as a pilot, understanding the medical and physical requirements is the first step. The FAA is one of the largest aviation regulatory bodies in the world, and they impose pilot medical requirements for physical fitness to ensure safety for all pilots and passengers in the skies.

Why are medical requirements necessary in aviation?

Safety is the number one priority in aviation. Therefore, there are medical and physical fitness requirements before any pilot can be granted their license. These requirements are in place to prevent medical emergencies while flying, ensure pilots are medically and physically fit to fly,  and to verify that pilots can make split-second, effective decisions when under duress.

At Acron Aviation Academy, we advise students of the FAA pilot medical requirements, integrate it into our onboarding processes, and outline other possible medical evaluation necessities. 

What are the American medical certificate classes and how long are they valid?

For pilots training toward or holding FAA pilot certificates, the FAA divides pilot medical requirement certification into three classes. Depending upon the license you choose to pursue, the medical certificate class required is:

Note: The validity is for privileges of each class. Total valid periods for medicals differ with age.

We request all Acron Aviation Academy students receive a First Class Medical certificate to begin their flying careers to verify they will be able to continue onto their commercial or airline-based professions without medical delays. However, a student may begin training with a Second or Third Class medical certificate for the purposes of training.

What can I expect during a medical exam?

Medical exams are performed by FAA-certified general aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs). The following are the areas of testing:

Visual requirements

• Distant vision: 20/20 or better (corrected or uncorrected) for First/Second class
• Near vision: 20/40 or better
• Intermediate vision: 20/40 or better (for over 50)
• Color vision: Must differentiate all colors for aviation signals

Auditory requirements

• Ability to hear a regular speaking voice at or greater than six feet

Cardiovascular requirements

• Blood pressure must be under 155/95 mmHg
• First-Class needs an ECG after 35 and annually after 40

Neurological/mental requirements

• No history of epilepsy, seizures, or disqualifying neurological conditions
• No major psychiatric disorder or substance use disorder

At Acron Aviation Academy, we educate students about the conditions that may complicate pilot medical requirement certification and refer them to the FAA-approved AMEs for further evaluation.

Special issuance and waivers

Should a student possess a medical condition that is disqualifying in nature (i.e., diabetic with diabetes well under control, history of heart attack but recovery and rehabilitation successful), the FAA still can issue a medical certificate via special issuance. Special issuances are case by case and require additional paperwork, additional testing, and recurring assessments.

Acron Aviation Academy students typically reach out to us for this purpose as well. We guide them through the required paperwork on our end, refer them to specialists, and help them stay on course for their goal of licensure.

International standards

Students coming from overseas or students transferring internationally from other locations will need to be tested and receive an FAA medical prior to training.

Physical requirements and daily readiness to fly

It's one thing to pass a medical exam; it's another to maintain physical fitness. A pilot needs to be prepared to fly daily, physically and mentally.

Acron Aviation Academy trains every student to remember to:

• Remain hydrated and well-rested
• Use the IMSAFE checklist: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion

We promote healthy living and schedule rest periods so that students have downtime to rest, recover, and recharge.

Glasses, ADHD, anxiety: Can you still get your wings?

Often, yes! Wearing corrective lenses is fine if you meet the minimum visual acuity requirements. ADHD and anxiety are likely to require letters of stability, treatment from a physician, or FAA review, but they are not necessarily a disqualifier.

Acron Aviation Academy works with every student to recognize any potential issues early on and guide them through the FAA medical processes.

Start your training the right way

Medical and physical pilot requirements are a crucial part of aviation. If you can meet these minimums, you'll be on your way to flying safely and successfully sooner than you think.

With Acron Aviation Academy at your side, you’ll understand your first FAA medical exam and then learn the skills and build the confidence needed for a successful flying career. Contact us to learn more about our flight training programs when you’re ready to take to the skies.