Archives: High On Health

COVID-19 & Your Fitness To Fly!

by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue COVID-19 (COronaVIrusDisease19) first appeared in late 2019. Since then it has caused a pandemic. It is classified as a corona virus. Corona is Latin for crown. Under … Continue reading

Posted in Columns, Columns, Columns, High On Health, October/November 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diabetes & FAA Certification

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D., Senior AME @August 2020 All rights reserved. Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue The FAA has come a long way since I first became an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Then diabetics could not … Continue reading

Posted in August/September 2020, Columns, Columns, Columns, High On Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finding New AMEs

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D., Senior AME Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2020 issue  Do you know of a physician you think would make a good Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)? Have you thought about recruiting him/her? There has been … Continue reading

Posted in Columns, Columns, Columns, High On Health, June/July 2020 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Understanding What Causes FAA Medical Certification Delays & What You Can Do To Speed Things Up!

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D.,Senior AME Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2020 issue I just returned from speaking at an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) refresher course in Nashville. AMEs are required to perform at least 10 flight physicals … Continue reading

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CBD & Why The Jury Is Still Out!

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue Is CBD (Cannabidiol) the latest fad or is it a medication with the potential to help people with certain conditions? CBD has certainly been getting a lot … Continue reading

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BasicMed Again!

by Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – December 2019/January 2020 issue “BasicMed” took effect on May 1, 2017, as an alternate way for pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate, as long as they meet certain … Continue reading

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High On Health

Introduction by Dr. Bill Blank As many of you know, marijuana for recreational use and some of its derivatives, have been legalized in several states. While they are legal in some states, they are illegal from the federal point of … Continue reading

Posted in Columns, Columns, High On Health, Oct/Nov 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Pilot’s Mental Health

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2019 issue Mental health issues are common in our society. The results of serious mental illness show up in the news: mass murders, the opioid crisis. Pilots are not … Continue reading

Posted in Columns, Columns, High On Health, June/July 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Visual Standards

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2019 issue Recently, several questions have come up regarding vision and certification. New Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) are required to attend a one-week course in Oklahoma City prior to … Continue reading

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Be Sure You Have All of Your Ducks In Order

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2019 issue Over the past several months, I have become aware of several certification issues which prompted this article. Pilots can now meet the medical certification requirements with a … Continue reading

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