Virtual Flight Surgeon
Virtual Flight Surgeon
Virtual Flight Surgeon
Virtual Flight Surgeon is an air force physician who specializes in aeromedicine. They are either MDs or DOs who are primarily responsible for the medical evaluation, certification and treatment of aviation personnel. They normally perform routine, periodic medical examinations of these personnel.
The civilian equivalent of the Virtual Flight Surgeon is the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
Apart from the above, this Virtual Flight Surgeon OR the AME’s plays an important role during the process of FAA Medical Examination.
A Virtual Flight Surgeon (AME) knows these personnel and their medical history well. They are more likely to answer questions for these personnel over the phone about their use of medications, medical conditions and flying Medical problems that have been previously addressed will be familiar to this Virtual Flight Surgeon (Aviation Medical Examiner). They will also keep a file of all correspondence to and from the FAA regarding your medical certificate.
The Virtual Flight Surgeon (AME) should be knowledgeable about aviation medicine and willing to work with the pilot, the pilot’s treating physicians, and the FAA Regional and national offices if necessary. They usually have a very busy office practice and they usually do few examinations each year. Some Virtual Flight Surgeon (Aviation Medical Examiner‘s) do hundreds or even thousands of FAA physicals each year and are extremely familiar with the nuances of the FAA administrative process. They are very comfortable working within the system, knowledgeable about the regulations and capable of assisting the pilot with rapid determinations of eligibility.
During the medical examination of an FAA, there is an intermediate decision termed a DEFERRAL. In this situation a Virtual Flight Surgeon (AME) plays an important role. He notes a medical condition that is questionable with regards to eligibility for medical certification. The pilot takes the physical examination, but rather than issue the medical certificate or give the pilot a denial letter, the Virtual Flight Surgeon (AME) defers the application and medical certificate to the Regional Flight Surgeon or the Aeromedical Certification Division. With the Virtual Flight Surgeon (Aviation Medical Examiner‘s) permission, the pilot may continue to fly on their current medical certificate until it lapses.
In most cases these Virtual Flight Surgeon are very knowledgeable and have assisted many pilots. Most questions can be addressed with a simple phone call, which avoids administrative delays and anxieties at a later date because of this Virtual Flight Surgeon knowledge base. If these Virtual Flight Surgeon’s (AME’s) are not certain about the case, they will contact the FAA Regional Flight Surgeon or the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division for advice.
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