[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-388915-105":3,"doc-detail-388915-en":81,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":99},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","aeromedical-factors-chapter-17","Aeromedical Factors - Chapter 17","","Chapter 17 explains aeromedical factors pilots must understand to meet mental and physical requirements for flight. It covers how pilots obtain medical certification, the different classes of certificates, and how validity periods vary by certificate class and age. The chapter details student and disability-related limitations, the statement of demonstrated ability (SODA), and the FAA’s disqualifying medical conditions. It also explains that many general medical conditions require FAA review and that special issuance may be available when conditions are stable.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/aeromedical-factors-chapter-17/388915/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/aeromedical-factors-chapter-17/388915.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Rowan","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-25",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",12,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Do all pilots need a medical certificate to exercise their privileges?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Most pilots must hold a valid medical certificate. Glider and free balloon pilots are not required to hold one, and sport pilots may hold either a medical certificate or a valid state driver’s license.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How long is a third-class medical certificate valid?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It is valid for 5 years for individuals who have not reached age 40; otherwise it is valid for 2 years.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What happens if an airman has a disqualifying medical condition?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"An airman may not be issued a medical certificate except through a Special Issuance Authorization process, which requires completion of special testing and determination that the airman is safe to fly for the certificate duration.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},388915,1790531984,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",{"doc_id":79,"user_id":84,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":85,"doc_module":4,"category_id":86,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":87,"file_id":88,"file_url":89,"file_type":90,"file_size":91,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":92,"language":93,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":94,"faqs":95,"seo_title":96,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":97,"read_time":98,"preview_page_count":4},1099514067415,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002539d78ffe74a7?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779092875211072502",7,"17 1  \nChapter 17  \nAeromedical Factors  \nIntroduction  \nIt is important for a pilot to be aware of the mental and physical standards required for the type of flying performed. This chapter provides information on medical certification and on a variety of aeromedical factors related to flight activities.  \nObtaining a Medical Certificate  \nMost pilots must have a valid medical certificate to exercise the privileges of their airman certificates. Glider and free balloon pilots are not required to hold a medical certificate. Sport pilots may hold either a medical certificate or a valid state driver’s license. Regardless of whether a medical certificate or drivers license is required, 14 CFR 61.53 requires every pilot not to act as a crewmember if they know, or have reason to know, of any medical condition that would make them unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.  \nAcquisition of a medical certificate requires an examination by an aviation medical examiner (AME), a physician with training in aviation medicine designated by the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) . There are three classes of medical certificates. The class of certificate needed depends on the type of flying the pilot plans to perform.  \nA third-class medical certificate is required for a private or recreational pilot certificate. It is valid for 5 years for those individuals who have not reached the age of 40; otherwise it is valid for 2 years. A commercial pilot certificate requires at least a second-class medical certificate, which is valid for 1 year. First-class medical certificates are required for airline transport pilots and are valid for one year if the airman is 40 or younger; 40 and older it is valid for 6 months.  \nThe standards are more rigorous for the higher classes of certificates. A pilot with a higher class medical certificate has met the requirements for the lower classes as well. Since the required medical class applies only when exercising the privileges of the pilot certificate for which it is required, a first-class medical certificate would be valid for 1 year if exercising the privileges ofa commercial certificate and 2 or 5 years, as appropriate, for exercising the privileges ofa private or recreational certificate. The same applies for a second-class medical certificate. The standards for medical certification are contained in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 67 and the requirements for obtaining medical certificates can be found in 14 CFR part 61.  \nStudents who have physical limitations, such as impaired vision, loss of a limb, or hearing impairment may be issued a medical certificate valid for “student pilot privileges only”while learning to fly. Pilots with disabilities may require special equipment to be installed in the aircraft, such as hand controls for pilots with paraplegia. Some disabilities necessitate a limitation on the individual’s certificate; for example, impaired hearing would require the limitation“not valid for flight requiring the use of radio.” When all the knowledge, experience, and proficiency requirements have been met and a student can demonstrate the ability to operate the aircraft with the normal level of safety, a “statement of  \ndemonstrated ability”(SODA) can be issued. This waiver, or SODA, is valid as long as the physical impairment does not worsen. Contact the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for more information on this subject.  \nThe FAA medical standards, 14 CFR part 67, specify fifteen medical conditions that are considered disqualifying by“history or clinical diagnosis.” Regardless of when one of these conditions was diagnosed and treated, an airman may not be issued a medical certificate except through a process called a “Special Issuance Authorization,” as explained in 14 CFR part 67, section 67.401. A special issuance is a discretionary issuance by the FAA Federal Air Surgeon and requires satisfactory completion of special testing determined by","cbCaijeKFbPhGs5W","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijeKFbPhGs5W","pdf",33549233,30,"English","# Introduction\n# Obtaining a Medical Certificate\n## Medical certificate classes and validity\n## Limitations, student privileges, and SODA\n## Disqualifying conditions and special issuance authorization\n# Health and Physiological Factors Affecting Pilot Performance","[{\"question\":\"Do all pilots need a medical certificate to exercise their privileges?\",\"answer\":\"Most pilots must hold a valid medical certificate. Glider and free balloon pilots are not required to hold one, and sport pilots may hold either a medical certificate or a valid state driver’s license.\"},{\"question\":\"How long is a third-class medical certificate valid?\",\"answer\":\"It is valid for 5 years for individuals who have not reached age 40; otherwise it is valid for 2 years.\"},{\"question\":\"What happens if an airman has a disqualifying medical condition?\",\"answer\":\"An airman may not be issued a medical certificate except through a Special Issuance Authorization process, which requires completion of special testing and determination that the airman is safe to fly for the certificate duration.\"}]","Aeromedical Factors - Chapter 17 | PDF",1790311812,76,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":100},[101,105,109,113,118,123,126,130,135,138,142],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":114,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":119,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":86,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":125},40,"healthcare",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":129},8,"Research & Report","research-report",{"id":131,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":132,"show_sort_weight":133,"slug":134},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":133,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":136,"show_sort_weight":133,"slug":137},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":139,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":140,"show_sort_weight":139,"slug":141},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":143,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":144,"show_sort_weight":114,"slug":145},19,"General","general"]