Tag Archives: Aviation Medical Examiner

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

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The Great Lakes Region Gets A New Regional Flight Surgeon While Basic Med Increases In Popularity

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2018 issue When I last checked, over 35,000 airmen had availed themselves of “Basic Med.” In addition, Mayo Clinic physicians now perform Basic Med exams. In fact, the Mayo … Continue reading

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Take Precautions… Don’t Become Victim To Incapacitation

by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2018 issue I am certainly no expert on the subject of “pilot incapacitation,” but it is a topic deserving of our attention. Obviously, if you are flying, my short … Continue reading

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Pilots & Cataracts

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – December 2017/January 2018 Cataracts are a common result of aging. Over 24 million Americans over 40, one-sixth of that population, have cataracts. More than half the people over 80 have … Continue reading

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How Basic Med Works!

by Dr. Bill Blank Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue I have been following “Basic Med” since the idea first arose, and waited to write this article until it was finally issued. I was afraid of last-minute changes … Continue reading

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Special Issuances… Why organization, completeness and timeliness is so important.

by Dr. Bill Blank Aviation Medical Examiner Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2017 In the past several issues of Midwest Flyer Magazine, I have been talking about the FAA certification process. I have discussed Regular Issuances (RI) and CACIs … Continue reading

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Getting Personal

by Dr. John Beasley, M.D. Aviation Medical Examiner Professor Emeritus and Clinical Professor Department of Family Medicine University of Wisconsin – Madison Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2017 issue Recently, an aviation legend who will remain nameless, almost bought … Continue reading

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The Medical Certification Process

by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – Dec 2016/Jan 2017 In the last issue, I talked about how some pilots who will soon be permitted to fly without an FAA-issued medical certificate, while the majority of pilots … Continue reading

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Do you have SA?

by Dr. John Beasley, M.D. Aviation Medical Examiner Professor Emeritus and Clinical Professor Department of Family Medicine University of Wisconsin – Madison No, “SA” doesn’t stand for “Social Affliction” or some obscure medical condition that threatens your medical certificate. SA, … Continue reading

Posted in April/May 2016, Columns, High On Health | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How Hypoxia Can Ruin A Flight

by Dr. Bill Blank, MD In the last issue, Midwest Flyer Magazine Editor Dave Weiman wrote about a general aviation oxygen system, so I thought an article about “hypoxia” would be helpful. Hypoxia means lack of oxygen and in our … Continue reading

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