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The below disqualifying conditions are in addition to the disqualifying conditions listed in the Military Medical Accessions Medical Guide. Unlike medical waivers to join the military, medical waivers for aviation duty are much harder to come by.

a. Military ATCs. The initial and retention medical standards for fitness for military ATC duties are the same.

b. DAC and DA contract civilian ATCs.

(1) Medical qualification requirements for Department of the Army civilian Air Traffic Controllers are outlined in Office of Personnel Mangement Operating Manual: Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, GS–2152: Air Traffic Control Series, in accordance with section 339.202, title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. These guidelines are available for review on the Internet at www.opm.gov/qualifications/index.htm.

(2) DA contract civilian ATCs may be required by their contractor employer to maintain a Class II Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certification; but this certification is not required by DA or FAA for contract ATCs to control air traffic in DOD facilities (14 CFR 65.31, 33). The initial and subsequent determinations of medical fitness for ATC duties are made as outlined in this regulation. The contract will state that DA contract ATCs will meet the same medical qualification requirements as those for DA civilians set forth in (1) above.

c. Class 4 military ATCs. The causes for unfitness for Class 4 ATC duties are as follows:

(1) Eye. (See paras 4–11 and 4–12.)

(2) Ear, nose, and throat. (See also para 4–7.)

(a) Unilateral or bilateral disease of the outer, middle, or inner ear that may interfere with the comfortable, efficient use of the standard headphone apparatus, with accurate perception of voice transmissions or spoken communications, or equilibrium.

(b) Disease or malformation of the mouth or throat that may interfere with enunciation and clear speech, to include stuttering or stammering. (See paras 4–6, 4–19, and 4–30.)

(c) Hearing loss that exceeds the standards in table 4–1.

(d) Nose and sinuses. (See para 4–20.)

(3) Cardiovascular and blood pressure. (See para 4–15.)

(4) Neuropsychiatric. (See paras 4–22, 4–23, and 4–29.)

(5) Endocrine. (See para 4–9.)

(6) Musculoskeletal.

(a) Any deformity or condition of the spine or limbs, or absence of any extremity, digit, or any portion thereof, that may interfere with satisfactory and safe performance of duty.

(b) Any condition that predisposes to fatigue or discomfort induced by long periods of standing or sitting.

(7) Weight and body build. These factors must not interfere with the operation of ATC equipment, or the use of work place facilities such as office chair or staircase.

(8) HIV seropositivity. (Civilian employees: Normally, neither applicants for employment nor current employees may be required to be tested for the presence of the HIV antibody. Civilian employees are not disqualified based solely on the presence of the HIV virus. See AR 600–110)

(9) Other medical conditions. Other organic, systemic, functional, or structural diseases, defects, or limitations that in the opinion of the attending FS may be a potential hazard to safety in the Air Traffic Control System, or predispose to sudden incapacitation or inability to adapt to stress. (See paras 4–26, 4–27.) A pertinent history and clinical evaluation including laboratory screening will be obtained, and when clinically indicated, special consultations and examinations will be accomplished and forwarded to the Aviation Medicine Approving Authority for review.

(10) Medications. Unfitting for ATC duties and requires a waiver.

Flight Classes

Specific Flight Class Medical Examinations are:

Class 1 - Warrant Officer Aviation Duty Applicants
Class 1A - Commissioned Officer Aviation Duty Applicants
Class 2 - Current Aviators, Current Student Aviators, and Previous Aviators Returning to Aviation Service
Class 2F - Flight Surgeons, Including Those in Flight Surgeon Training
Class 2S - MOS 13F, Assigned to Aerial Fire Support Observer Duty
Class 3 - Non Rated Soldiers who Participate in Regular Flights (Crew Chiefs, Gunners, UAV Operators, etc.)
Class 4 - Air Traffic Control

Derived from Army Regulation 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness