On Renewing Your Medical Certificate

By Charles P. Nicholson, JR., M.D.

Sport Aviation, August 1996

Who of us "flying addicts" does not get a dry throat, sweaty palms, a faster heartbeat and an uneasy sensation in our belly when we just think of our Medical Certificate being up for renewal? The symptoms are those known as the "White Coat Syndrome" - seeing our Aviation Examiner (A.M.E.). Few things in life are as dear to us as is our Medical Certificate. This Syndrome is our natural reaction to the situation.

The following are some hints to best prepare for renewing the certificate.

There are some things which affect our health and physical condition which we cannot modify - inheritance (genes), age, sex, etc.

We can modify our lifestyle to a great extent. Exercise; moderation in the use, if any, of tobacco and alcohol; maintaining body weight within established normals for height and body build; rest - particularly sleep habit and pattern; and hobbies. There are others, but these are the ones which can have the greatest benefit.

Get a good baseline physical examination to include a chemical profile on a blood specimen. If any adverse changes and/or values are found, follow the advice of your treating physician.

If results are normal, get follow-up studies once or twice a year. Some insurance policies cover such examinations. Regardless, try to follow through with these tests.

If concerned about any A.M.E. being willing to help, identify one that is "your advocate."

With few exceptions, following the above suggestions will result in renewal of your Medical Certificate and continue to provide a "fix" for our wonderful addiction ". . . only .7% of all airmen are denied certification . . . this number is reduced to 1/10% when airmen follow-up and provide the requested information" (Federal Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin, Winter 1995, page 9).

(Dr. Nicholson, EAA 101988, 5936 Londonderry Ct., NW, Kings Crossing, Concord, NC 28027, is a Senior Aviation medical Examiner, an Aviation Safety Counselor and a member of EAA Aeromedical Advisory Council. He holds the ratings of ATP, CFII and ASMEL.)