Mayo Clinic Clear Approach
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach tackles medical topics important to commercial aviators, recreational pilots, or just folks interested in things that fly. Current topics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation trends are explored in a serious but sometimes humorous way. Mayo Clinic Clear Approach focuses on a perspective from "the other side of the gurney." Let us navigate the storms of aeromedical certification, medical issues that may affect pilots, and share experiences with and from other pilots to break through life's sometimes stormy clouds and focus in on a clear approach.
The FAA is Still Using Floppy Disks? Bring on new Technology!
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On this episode, we review the recent FAA announcements that the agency is upgrading air traffic control facilities in 2027 that were using floppy discs for certain controller information platforms and bringing things into the 21st century. Plus, we review updates on the new FAA on-line medication registry (MedGuide), a new clinical status summary for amblyopia (lazy eye), and a new disposition table for pilots undergoing kidney transplants.
Brain Injury to Optometry -- What's in the FAA Update Bag This Time?
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On this episode, we review updates from the FAA on several topics including new stand down times for traumatic brain injury, the ability to use an optometrist rather than ophthalmologist for certain conditions such as diabetes, and allowable drugs for managing weight loss and for control of allergies.
No Waivers Required for Pilots With Diabetes? It's Coming!
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On this episode, we review the FAA proposal to drop the requirement for Special Issuance Authorization completely for well-controlled diabetic piloits with management of the condition using oral medication or dietary modification (non-insulin dependent diabetes) -- plus, we cover recent updates from the FAA on certain respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary artery hypertension, and pulmonary nodules.
FAA Updates on POTS plus Meeting With Juice
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On this episode, we get to visit with Mayo Clinic's newest FAA Aviation Medical Examiner, Dr. Jacob Berry (call sign "Juice"). Plus, the latest updates from the new FAA disposition table for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Updates from the FAA on Endocrine Abnormalities: You and Your Glands
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On this episode, we provide updates from the FAA on aeromedical certification for various conditions that involve endocrine function within the body.
Updates from the Highest Perch of FAA Medical: Chat with Dr. Susan Northrup, Federal Air Surgeon
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On this episode, we discuss topics from mental health initiatives to artificial intelligence being implemented at the FAA with Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup.
FAA Medical Kits, Disqualifying Drugs, and Misplaced Certificates
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On this episode, we look at updates on medical kits for Part 121 carriers proposed by the FAA as well as a review of disqualifying medications and what to do if your medical certificate inadvertently goes through the washing machine. Plus, a special guest will help guide the podcast.
Uh oh! Does a DUI arrest or conviction end it all for a flying career?
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On this episode of the podcast, we review the key materials needed to be collected by the pilot in order for a medical certificate to be issued by the FAA after an airman is arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol or other illicit substances. Will it end your career? Or, with some planning and preparation, can you leave your AME's office with a certificate?
FAA Updates on Achy Breaky Hearts
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On this episode, we discuss some of the updates from the latest FAA AME Grand Rounds as it pertains to various heart conditions that might affect you as a pilot.
News for Snoozin' and Cruisin'
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On this episode, we review FAA updates on streamlining the process of documenting adequate use of CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea as well as clarifications from the FAA on using a counselor, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist for obtaining appropriate mental health care.
Time to Quit Smoking -- And Not Lose Your Medical
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On this episode, we review some of the highlights of the recent Aerospace Medical Association meeting in Denver, and then cover FAA updates on acceptable medications for efforts at smoking cessation.
The HIMS Program and Benefits to Pilots and Families
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On this episode, we review what exactly the HIMS program is, what is required to obtain FAA Special Issuance Authorization when a pilot deals with substance abuse and/or dependence, and provide updates from the latest advanced HIMS training course.
Hormone Replacement and Osteoproosis for Pilots
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On this addition, we provide updates recently announced by the FAA regarding hormone replacement therapy as well as medications for treatment of osteoporosis, common conditions found in female pilots.
Maybe Not Too Spicy: FAA Medical Updates for Acid Reflux to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
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On this episode, we review the latest FAA updates on a variety of conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), retinal dystrophies, and the CACI qualification for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Go With the Flow: Updates on drones and clots
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On this episode, we discuss the amazing advancements in the world of drone technology -- the fastest growing sector in the aviation space. In addition, we review thromboembolic disease, the medical term for clots either in the lung or in an extremity that can be life-threatening, and potentially jeopardize your medical certificate. What is required for Special Issuance Authorization? Is there a stand down time? What do I need to report at my next flight physical if I encounter a pulmonary embolism or a deep venous thrombosis?
Restructuring for the Future and Updating GI Conditions
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On this episode, we return from a mid-winter hiatus back to the studio with a new practice location as part of a Mayo Clinic rebuild of the entire downtown campus. Plus, restructuring at the FAA, and a review of current updates regarding liver disease, including steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, esophageal varices, and liver transplantation.
Holiday Happiness in the "Land of Misfit Toys"
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Many pilots who have visited the Mayo Clinic Section of Transportation Medicine had early Christmas presents this year when they received their medical certificates. On this episode, we review some of those cases and update listeners on the newest FAA aeromedical certification changes released this month.
Discover a "Secret Resource" to Speed Up Your Aeromedical Certification
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As the holiday season approaches, one gift to pilots is the AME Guide available from the FAA on line as an insider resource to aviators preparing for their flight physicals. Think of preparation for a flight physical as a pre-flight inspection of yourself. Medical conditions never seem to strike at convenient times, so having an online, free, and accessible guide to understanding what tests and materials might be required by your AME is a true gift in the process of navigating FAA medical certification.
Seeing Through Glaucoma
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On this episode, we review glaucoma, one of the most common causes of visual acuity loss in older adults and gradually affects visual field of pilots if not detected early. That early detection is a key factor in preventing its effects. What about aeromedical certification implications? Is there CACI criteria available for glaucoma? Is a pilot able to hold a medical certificate with this condition?
Certification After Sudden Cardiac Death Episodes or with Brugada Pattern on ECG
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On this episode, we access a world expert on complex cardiac arrhythmias that can result in sudden cardiac death. Can a pilot resuscitated on the flight deck or in the field actually get back to flight duty? What trends are being seen in the FAA cardiology panel when it comes to consideration of these conditions? Why is it important to perform detailed research and provide data to the FAA to help shape future aeromedical decision making?
Wheeze Bad -- A Short Primer on Certification with Respiratory Issues
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On this episode, we interview Dr. Wigdan Farah, a pulmonologist in Mayo Clinic's Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine to discuss several respiratory conditions seen commonly in pilots seeking medical certification -- then review aeromedical implications and requirements.
Legal Beagles - Aeromedical Certification from the Perspective of an Aviation Attorney
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On this episode, we ask a few questions of an aviation attorney as it pertains to aeromedical certification. How worried do pilots need to be about falsification on on a medical application -- intended or unintended? What is the liability for using BasicMed as an alternative to aeromedical certification? What are the most common cases for which pilots contact an aviation attorney?
Government shutdown? What now? Let's talk Skin Cancer
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On this episode, we review any potential changes in flight physical reviews on the basis of the government shutdown. In addition, with the outstanding weather this fall in the upper Midwest, we review ultraviolet radiation effects as it pertains to skin cancer and how that can affect aeromedical certification.
FAA Updates from the Civil Aviation Medical Association meeting and AME Grand Rounds
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On this episode, we discuss items learned at the Civil Aviation Medical Association meeting (CAMA) in Spokane, Washington along with a few updates from the FAA communicated on the recent AME Grand Rounds held virtually this past week.
Will Low Platelet Counts Prevent Issuing a Medical Certificate?
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A certain portion of pilots develop low platelet counts, otherwise known as thrombocytopenia. On this episode, we look at how platelets work in the body, what happens if there are not enough platelets, and why the FAA even cares. Having a good plan in place with your AME to deal with this condition is important when considering aeromedical certification.
Atrial Fibrillation: A Fluttering Heart and Aeromedical Implications
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Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common forms of heart arrhythmia that require Special Issuance Authorization from the FAA. On this episode, we review what testing is required and how difficult the challenge is to obtain a medical waiver for the condition.
Head Trauma and the Pilot: Boo boo on the Noggin' to Skull Fractures and Brain Bleeds
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Falls, crashes, and other events resulting in head trauma are never planned but can have significant consequences for a pilot's ability to maintain a medical certificate. On this episode, we review the various levels of severity of head trauma as defined by the FAA and navigate direct paths to aeromedical certification.
Searching for the "Cog" in the Wheels of the Mind: Neuropsychology Testing in Pilots
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On this episode, we visit with an FAA-trained neuropsychologist -- an expert in the field of testing cognitive ability -- often required as part of medical certification in pilots with conditions such as depression, ADHD, prior drug or alcohol disorders, and past head trauma. We ask what to do, and what not to do as part of these testing sessions, often cloaked in anonymity.
Alphabet Soup of Aeromedical Certification Acronyms
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Many times in the process of obtaining an aviation medical certificate, pilots come across acronyms and terms typically unfamiliar to most people. On this episode, we decipher some of those terms so you can impress friends and family at the hangar or pilot domicile.
EAA's AirVenture Highlights and Hosting an FAA AME Refresher Seminar
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On this episode, the podcast returns Mitch and Clay from extended vacations to review highlights from one of the largest aviation events in the country held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin -- along with outlining the framework for an upcoming AME refresher seminar to be held by the FAA Education Division on the Mayo Clinic campus.
What Happens When an AME is the Patient/Pilot?
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Ever wonder what an AME feels like when they have to undergo the scrutiny of a flight physical themselves? On this episode, we reflect on life from the "other side of the gurney" and how to best prepare for undergoing a flight physical before showing up.
Dark Pee? Think Hep C! Navigating FAA Certification with Hepatitis
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Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that often involves no specific symptoms -- until it is too late. On this episode, we cover a pathway to FAA medical certification in pilots who contract this sneaky virus.
Leading for the Future of Aerospace Medicine
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On this episode, we visit with soon-to-be retired Executive Director of the Aerospace Medical Association, Jeff Sventek. His insights from more than 30 years in the United States Air Force along with 15 additional years guiding the leading specialty organization for Aerospace Medicine culminate with the annual Scientific Meeting scheduled in Atlanta the first week of June. We will get a sneak peak of the meeting and ask about his vision for the future of the specialty.
Cheating on the FAA Medical Application Form 8500-8 (or Just an Oversight)??
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On this episode, we discuss a pilot who was charged with making false statements on the FAA medical application form and what implications that might have including possible jail time or fines. How does one balance the need to be complete with that of unnecessary worry about missing a non-relevant medical visit?
Spring Brings Pollen and a Push for Supercharging ATC Hiring
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On this episode, we review the recently announced FAA strategy for hiring more air traffic controllers -- all while addressing the first pollen burst of the year and how pilots can navigate using antihistamines and other medications without jeopardizing their medical certificate.
The FAA is Listening: Do You Know About the "3Es?"
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At the latest AME Grand Rounds, medical examiners heard updates from the FAA regarding a recent listening session in which a variety of aviation-related organizations provided insight into how the FAA's medical divisions could improve -- and they're listening. On this episode, we review the updates from the latest information session provided to AMEs by the agency, plus meet one of the Mayo Clinic fellows in training within the Aerospace Medicine program.
FAA Certification for the "Baby Brother of Diabetes" -- Pre-Diabetes
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Although a very common condition, the presence of glucose intolerance or what the FAA calls "pre-diabetes" can result in medical certification -- and in some cases, does not even require Special Issuance Authorization. What are the newer drugs allowed and what is required to obtain or keep your medical certificate?
HIMS -- Not just a Pronoun!
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The Human Intervention and Motivational Study, also known as the HIMS Program is an occupational substance abuse treatment program dedicated to helping all pilots return to the cockpit or flight deck. HIMS-trained AMEs, neuropsychologists, and psychiatrists in conjunction with employers, union representatives, and other support organizations work together to evaluate and support pilots with substance disorders or dependence, or other mental health conditions. On this episode, we discuss the program as well as lessons learned from the recent Advanced HIMS Seminar held in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I passed out and I have no idea what happened." Now what?
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Episodes of syncope or loss of consciousness can result from something as simple as a brief fainting episode -- up to the level of a severe head injury. How it's documented and the testing required for FAA purposes can be critical. On this episode, we discuss the aeromedical implications of syncope and stand down times depending on the various severity of head injuries as well as a less common condition known as transient global amnesia (TGA). What testing is required and what information will the pilot with a loss of consciousness need to t...
Scanning the Heart with CT imaging: Good idea for pilots, or not?
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On this episode we review the technology of coronary artery CT scanning and CT angiography. Although used as an effective screening tool for certain individuals, is this imaging something that pilots should pursue? What happens if an elevated coronary calcium score is identified? Will a pilot still be able to retain their medical certificate, and how much additional testing might be required?
