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A certain portion of pilots develop low platelet counts, otherwise known as thrombocytopenia. On this episode, we look at how platelets work in the body, what happens if there are not enough platelets, and why the FAA even cares. Having a good plan in place with your AME to deal with this condition is important when considering aeromedical certification.

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Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common forms of heart arrhythmia that require Special Issuance Authorization from the FAA. On this episode, we review what testing is required and how difficult the challenge is to obtain a medical waiver for the condition.

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Falls, crashes, and other events resulting in head trauma are never planned but can have significant consequences for a pilot's ability to maintain a medical certificate. On this episode, we review the various levels of severity of head trauma as defined by the FAA and navigate direct paths to aeromedical certification.

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On this episode, we visit with an FAA-trained neuropsychologist -- an expert in the field of testing cognitive ability -- often required as part of medical certification in pilots with conditions such as depression, ADHD, prior drug or alcohol disorders, and past head trauma. We ask what to do, and what not to do as part of these testing sessions, often cloaked in anonymity.

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Many times in the process of obtaining an aviation medical certificate, pilots come across acronyms and terms typically unfamiliar to most people. On this episode, we decipher some of those terms so you can impress friends and family at the hangar or pilot domicile.

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On this episode, the podcast returns Mitch and Clay from extended vacations to review highlights from one of the largest aviation events in the country held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin -- along with outlining the framework for an upcoming AME refresher seminar to be held by the FAA Education Division on the Mayo Clinic campus.

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Ever wonder what an AME feels like when they have to undergo the scrutiny of a flight physical themselves? On this episode, we reflect on life from the "other side of the gurney" and how to best prepare for undergoing a flight physical before showing up.

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Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that often involves no specific symptoms -- until it is too late. On this episode, we cover a pathway to FAA medical certification in pilots who contract this sneaky virus.