Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners - 2026

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Connor

Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners (2026) provides organized, searchable instructions for completing FAA Form 8500-8 and making aviation medical certification decisions. The guide explains regulations and legal responsibilities, outlines examination procedures, dispositions, and protocols, and supports navigation by item number or subject using PDF bookmarks. It includes updated disposition tables for multiple conditions and lists scheduled monthly updates, along with an extensive table of contents covering authorization, privacy, release of information, reexamination, fees, and application steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages932

Reading Time39 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

General Information

Legal Responsibilities of Designated Aviation Medical Examiners

Authority of Aviation Medical Examiners

Equipment Requirements

Medical Certification Decision Making

Authorization for Special Issuance and AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI)

Privacy of Medical Information

Release of Information

No "Alternate" Examiners Designated

Who May Be Certified

Classes of Medical Certificates

Operations Not Requiring a Medical Certificate

Medical Certificates – AME Completion

Validity of Medical Certificates

Title 14 CFR § 61.53, Prohibition on Operations During Medical Deficiency

Reexamination of an Airman

Examination Fees

Replacement of Medical Certificates

Disposition of Applications and Medical Examinations

Protection and Destruction of Forms

Questions, Requests for Assistance, and Technical Support

Airman Appeals

Medical Certificates Requested for any Situation or Job Other than a Pilot or Air Traffic Controller

Pilot Information – Current Detailed Clinical Progress Note

English Proficiency and Pilot Medical Certification

Aeromedical Summary (AMS)

Subpoena for Medical Records or Testimony: AME Guidance

Application for Medical Certification

AME Guidance for Positive Identification of Airmen and Application Procedures

Prior to the Examination

After the Applicant Completes the Medical History of the FAA Form 8500-8

Items 1-2. Application for; Class of Medical Certificate Applied For

Items 3-10. Identification

Items 11-12. Occupation; Employer

2026 GUIDE FOR AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINERS (Updated 08/26/2026) Welcome to the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners. The format of this version of the Guide provides instant access to information regarding regulations, medical history, examination procedures, dispositions, and protocols necessary for completion of the FAA Form 8500-8, Application for Airman Medical Certificate. To navigate through the Guide PDF by Item number or subject matter, simply click on the“BOOKMARK” tab in the left column to search specific certification decision-making criteria. To expand any “BOOKMARK” files, click on the corresponding + button located in the front of the text. To collapse any of the expanded files, click on the + button again. | AME ALERT | | --- | | New disposition tables:
• Amblyopia and Status Summary
• Chorioretinitis and Status Summary
• Diplopia (Double Vision)
• Retinoschisis
• Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) -Peripheral (lungs, liver, bone)
• Buerger Disease or Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO)
• Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• Congenital Sucrase Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID)
• Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
• Subpoena for Medical Records or Testimony: AME Guidance
Updated:
• Removed Chief Pilot requirement from antidepressant pages.
• Medication for: Migraine, Biologics, Osteoporosis, Diabetes See the Archives and Updates section for more information. | | | NOTE: Updates to the 2026 AME Guide are scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month, as indicated below. Please refer to the Archives and Updates section for a description of changes that are made. | JANUARY 28 | MAY 27 | SEPTEMBER 30 | | --- | --- | --- | | FEBRUARY 25 | JUNE 24 | OCTOBER 28 | | MARCH 25 | JULY 29 | NOVEMBER -No scheduled updates | | APRIL 29 | AUGUST 26 | DECEMBER -No scheduled updates | TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................... 9 1. Legal Responsibilities of Designated Aviation Medical Examiners................. 10 2. Authority of Aviation Medical Examiners ........................................................ 11 3. Equipment Requirements ............................................................................... 12 4. Medical Certification Decision Making............................................................ 15 5. Authorization for Special Issuance and AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI)........................................................................................................................... 16 6. Privacy of Medical Information ....................................................................... 19 7. Release of Information ................................................................................... 20 8. No "Alternate" Examiners Designated ............................................................ 20 9. Who May Be Certified .................................................................................... 21 10. Classes of Medical Certificates .................................................................... 22 11. Operations Not Requiring a Medical Certificate ........................................... 23 12. Medical Certificates – AME Completion ....................................................... 24 13. Validity of Medical Certificates ..................................................................... 26 14. Title 14 CFR § 61.53, Prohibition on Operations During Medical Deficiency 27 15. Reexamination of an Airman ........................................................................ 27 16. Examination Fees......................................................................................... 28 17. Replacement of Medical Certificates ............................................................ 28 18. Disposition of Applications and Medical Examinations ................................. 28 19. Prot

FAQs

How can I quickly find information in the 2026 AME Guide PDF?

Use the "BOOKMARK" tab in the left column to search by item number or subject matter. Expand a bookmark with the corresponding + button, and collapse it by clicking + again.

What is the 2026 AME Guide designed to help AMEs complete?

It provides regulations, medical history considerations, examination procedures, dispositions, and protocols necessary to complete FAA Form 8500-8, Application for Airman Medical Certificate.

When are updates to the 2026 AME Guide scheduled?

Updates are scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month. The guide lists specific dates, and instructs readers to check the Archives and Updates section for descriptions of changes.

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Connor