Aerospace Medicine

Services

More than 800,000 pilots are licensed to fly aircraft in the United States. Aviation is an enjoyable and exciting endeavor, but serious injury or death may occur if flying occurs without attention to safety. The pilot with medical conditions that increase the possibility of incapacitation during flight places others at risk. Mayo Clinic's Aerospace Medicine program supports aviation safety by providing comprehensive care, biomedical research, and education for pilots, aviation personnel and passengers on the ground and in the air.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) trains and certifies the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Mayo Clinic has certified AMEs in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. The FAA has designated certain Mayo physicians with a minimum of three years of accurately performing flight physicals as Senior Aviation Medical Examiners (SAMEs). SAMEs are qualified to perform Class I examinations, which meet the standard for commercial airline transport pilots.

There are three classes of FAA medical certificates, each with a more restrictive set of physical standards. Any pilot may apply for any class of medical certification, but most pilots apply for the class most applicable to their flying activity.

Class I examination is typically reserved for scheduled commercial airline transport pilots.

Class II examination is required for commercial pilots, including corporate aviators, crop dusters, aeromedical pilots, charter pilots, or navigators and first officers of commercial airline flights.

Class III examinations are used for recreational or private pilots.

The Aerospace Medicine program offers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Executive flight physicals
• FAA flight physicals
• FAA Special Issuance consultations
• Aviation disability evaluations
• In-flight medical assistance
• Corporate medical directorship
• Pre-placement special assessments
• Ground and cabin crew physiologic training
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Altitude physiology research