5011 Spenard Rd., Suite 205 Anchorage, AK 99517
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FAQ'S

Frequently Asked Question

Have more questions?

We know you have questions, and for the most part, we have the answers. Our most commonly asked questions are listed below. Of course, if your question isn’t among these, you can always contact us.

If I have to take blood pressure medications, will I lose my medical?

Of course not! This is one of the most common medical problems pilots face, and is one of the easiest to handle with the FAA. All the usually prescribed anti-hypertension medications in current use are approved by the FAA. The AME may issue a certificate if the treating physician provides a brief hypertension evaluation report which documents the medications used, their dosages, whether there are any adverse effects or any complications of the hypertension itself. This report must contain a recent blood pressure reading (no higher than 155/95) and also whether there are other medical condition being treated.

Lab tests and electrocardiogram (ECG) are not required unless the treating physician believes it is important to do so. A follow-up current status report is required at the time of renewal of the next medical for Class III pilots, and annually for Class I and II pilots. In reality, these reports are no more than what a good doctor should be doing anyway! Of course, it is best if the pilot presents these reports to the AME at the time of the examination to avoid any delay in issuing the certificate.

To make it easier, we have created a hypertension worksheet that the treating physician can fill out instead of a typed report, Hypertension Evaluation Worksheet to download.