For pilots, few things are more challenging than being grounded due to a serious injury. Whether the result of an accident, surgery, or a medical condition, returning to the skies…
Category: High On Health
HIGH ON HEALTH – Calcium Scoring & the Aviator’s Heart: What Every Pilot Should Know
A Pilot’s Perspective Pilots tend to think in terms of checklists, systems, and risk management. We meticulously maintain our aircraft but sometimes overlook the most important engine onboard: our own…
HIGH ON HEALTH – NBAA Lauds House Passage of Important Pilot Mental Wellness Legislation
Washington, DC – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed passage by the U.S. House of Representatives a bipartisan bill to improve pilot access to mental health care. The Mental…
HIGH ON HEALTH: Medical Matters in Aviation: FAA Guidance On GLP-1 Medications
Greetings, fellow aviators! It’s a pleasure to join the Midwest Flyer Magazine family as your new voice in aviation medicine. Dr. Bill Blank is a hard act to follow, but I will…
NBAA Commends FAA’s Withdrawal of Onerous Proposed Airman Medical Denial Policy
Washington, DC – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) announcement on April 25, 2025, that the agency will withdraw proposed changes to the airman…
High on Health: There’s still work to be done.
I have been privileged to contribute articles for the “High On Health” column in Midwest Flyer Magazine for more than 10 years, assuming the reins left by Dr. John Beasley,…
Medical Certification Improvements?
As many of you already know, on December 4, 2024, the FAA announced two major changes to the medical certification process. Having attended many Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) conferences this…
AME Issuance After a DUI
Recently the FAA published a “Pilot Minute” YouTube video about AME’s ability to issue medical certificates after an applicant has had a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) violation. I thought…
Alcohol and Cancer
Recently, I became aware that some researchers felt there was a link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer. Over the years I had wondered about this. I…
The Flu Season Is Upon Us
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Senior Aviation Medical Examiner We are at the beginning of the flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines the season as…
Color Vision How & Why It Can Affect Pilots
by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Senior Aviation Medical Examiner © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2024 Digital Issue Our eyes are one of our…
Ocular Certification Changes
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Senior Aviation Medical Examiner © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2024 Digital Issue The FAA ocular certification procedures are…
The Aging Pilot
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Senior Aviation Medical Examiner© Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue When I learned to fly a long…
Efforts To Speed Up Certification
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Senior Aviation Medical Examiner © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2024 Digital Issue The FAA is acutely aware that…
Sunglasses
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Senior Aviation Medical Examiner © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue Recently the Federal Air Surgeon, Dr….