Air Force Flying Physical
Medical Examination Standards
General Information. The medical conditions listed are cause to reject an examinee for flying training (all classes), or continued flying duty (classes II or III) unless a waiver is granted. Acute medical problems, injuries, or their appropriate therapy are cause for withholding certification for flying training or temporarily restricting the individual from flying until the problem is resolved. These standards are not all inclusive and other diseases or defects can be cause for rejection based upon the judgment of the examining flight surgeon. Any condition that in the opinion of the flight surgeon presents a hazard to flying safety, the individual's health, or mission completion is cause for temporary disqualification for flying duties. To be considered waiverable, any disqualifying condition should meet the following criteria:
- Not pose a risk of sudden incapacitation.
- Pose minimal potential for subtle performance decrement, particularly with regard to the higher senses.
- Be resolved or be stable and be expected to remain so under the stresses of the aviation environment.
- If the possibility of progression or recurrence exists, the first symptoms or signs must be easily detectable and not pose a risk to the individual or the safety of others.
- Cannot require exotic tests, regular invasive procedures, or frequent absences to monitor for stability or progression.
- Must be compatible with the performance of sustained flying operations in austere envi ronments.
Flying Class I qualifies for selection into Enhanced Flight Screening and com mencement of undergraduate pilot training (UPT).
Flying
Class IA qualifies for selection and commencement of undergraduate navl gator
training.
Flying Class II qualifies undergraduate flight training students, rated officers, and physician applicants for Aerospace Medicine Primary training.
Flying Class III
qualifies individuals for non-rated duties in ASC 9D, 9E and 9W.
Physiologic training
standards (Attachment 8) qualifies individuals for non-rated duties in ASC 9G.
Categorical Flying Class II qualifies rated officers for duty in certain restricted air craft categories.
Flying Class IIA
qualifies rated officers for duty in low-G aircraft (tanker, transport, bomber,
T-43 and T-1).
- Individual applies
for initial flying duty (all classes). (Initial rated flying or Initial non-rated
flying.).
- Officers holding comparable status in other US military services apply for Air Force aeronautical ratings (FC II, SF 88/SF 93, etc.).
- Personnel, including
personnel of the ARC, are ordered to participate in frequent and regular aerial
flight (Periodic Flying, Long).
- Flying personnel,
including personnel of the ARC, are suspended from flying status for 12 months
or more for medical reasons, applying for return to flying duties (Periodic
Fly ing, long for ARC and PHA with AMS for AD/AF).
- Flying personnel
are ordered to appear before a Flying Evaluation Board (FEB). (See AFI 11-401,
Flight Management). (Periodic flying (long) for ARC and PHA with AMS
for AD/AF).
- All members
on flying status, annually, within 3 months preceding the last day of the
birth month or 6 months for special circumstances, such as permanent change
of station (PCS), temporary duty (TDY), retirement or waiver renewal, etc.
- Return to flying
status after a break in flying duties.
Information derived from Air Force Instruction 48-23, Current as of Dec 2000.
