Your Medical
Obtaining a Medical Certificate is the first step.
You will need to know that you are medically fit to fly.
This is the first step before you invest your time and money into your flight instruction training. It is important to be aware of FAA requirements. If restricting medical conditions exist, it might take the FAA months to process all the required test results. We advise you to obtain either
- a First-Class Medical Certificate, if you are pursuing a professional career - a Second Class Medical for a commercial pilot license
- a Third Class Medical if private pilot is your goal
Upon receiving your medical, this will verify that you are fit to perform the intended duties of a pilot.
- Medications. The FAA published a list of medications that you may or may not use prior to or during flight. (Medication Database - AMAS (Login: aviationmedicine.com) Some of these medications treat underlying health issues which could cause a delay or even disqualify you for a Medical Certificate. If you are uncertain about any of your prescriptions or medical complications, contact us before scheduling a medical exam.
- MedXpress. To schedule an appointment for your Medical Certificate, you will need to first complete a form on MedXPress (Login: faa.gov). Here you create an account and start a new application which will lead you to multiple pages that focus on your current and past medical condition. It is important to note that on the page where you are asked about a condition you may currently experience, you should not consider acute but rather chronical pain. In any case, do not click on "yes" for headaches/nausea, if you just had a headache that moment and are otherwise fine. After you complete your MedXPress application you will receive a completion code which you will need to bring to your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
- Schedule an AME appointment. This may be done by direct contact via phone or e-mail with the appropriate company or person. Make sure you have your completion code. To find an AME (Login: faa.gov)
Your Student Pilot Certificate
To kick off your training most effectively, you should start the task of gaining a student pilot certificate beforehand. This undertaking requires you to create an account on the FAA IACRA website (IACRA - Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov)) and start the process of obtaining said certificate (8710-1 Form). Important to note is that this is a government site and as such you should double check on potential misspellings or incorrect information entered. A helpful guiding video can be found here: (1308) Ep. 80: IACRA | How to Apply for a Student Pilot Certificate - YouTube).
Flight School
To ensure a swift start to your training you should be prepared to bring with you on your first visit:
- A Medical Certificate
- A photo ID
- Your Passport/Birth Certificate
- A copy of your 8710-1 Form