PODCAST · health
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach
by Mayo Clinic Aerospace Medicine
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach tackles medical topics important to commercial aviators, recreational pilots, or just folks interested in things that fly. Current topics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation trends are explored in a serious but sometimes humorous way. Mayo Clinic Clear Approach focuses on a perspective from "the other side of the gurney." Let us navigate the storms of aeromedical certification, medical issues that may affect pilots, and share experiences with and from other pilots to break through life's sometimes stormy clouds and focus in on a clear approach.
Episodes
-
Brain Injury to Optometry -- What's in the FAA Update Bag This Time?
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review updates from the FAA on several topics including new stand down times for traumatic brain injury, the ability to use an optometrist rather than ophthalmologist for certain conditions such as diabetes, and allowable drugs for managing weight loss and for...
-
No Waivers Required for Pilots With Diabetes? It's Coming!
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review the FAA proposal to drop the requirement for Special Issuance Authorization completely for well-controlled diabetic piloits with management of the condition using oral medication or dietary modification (non-insulin dependent diabetes) -- plus, we cover...
-
FAA Updates on POTS plus Meeting With Juice
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we get to visit with Mayo Clinic's newest FAA Aviation Medical Examiner, Dr. Jacob Berry (call sign "Juice"). Plus, the latest updates from the new FAA disposition table for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
-
Updates from the FAA on Endocrine Abnormalities: You and Your Glands
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we provide updates from the FAA on aeromedical certification for various conditions that involve endocrine function within the body.
-
Updates from the Highest Perch of FAA Medical: Chat with Dr. Susan Northrup, Federal Air Surgeon
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss topics from mental health initiatives to artificial intelligence being implemented at the FAA with Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup.
-
FAA Medical Kits, Disqualifying Drugs, and Misplaced Certificates
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we look at updates on medical kits for Part 121 carriers proposed by the FAA as well as a review of disqualifying medications and what to do if your medical certificate inadvertently goes through the washing machine. Plus, a special guest will help guide the...
-
Uh oh! Does a DUI arrest or conviction end it all for a flying career?
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast, we review the key materials needed to be collected by the pilot in order for a medical certificate to be issued by the FAA after an airman is arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol or other illicit substances. Will it end...
-
FAA Updates on Achy Breaky Hearts
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss some of the updates from the latest FAA AME Grand Rounds as it pertains to various heart conditions that might affect you as a pilot.
-
News for Snoozin' and Cruisin'
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review FAA updates on streamlining the process of documenting adequate use of CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea as well as clarifications from the FAA on using a counselor, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist for obtaining appropriate mental health care.
-
Time to Quit Smoking -- And Not Lose Your Medical
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review some of the highlights of the recent Aerospace Medical Association meeting in Denver, and then cover FAA updates on acceptable medications for efforts at smoking cessation.
-
The HIMS Program and Benefits to Pilots and Families
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review what exactly the HIMS program is, what is required to obtain FAA Special Issuance Authorization when a pilot deals with substance abuse and/or dependence, and provide updates from the latest advanced HIMS training course.
-
Hormone Replacement and Osteoproosis for Pilots
Send us Fan Mail On this addition, we provide updates recently announced by the FAA regarding hormone replacement therapy as well as medications for treatment of osteoporosis, common conditions found in female pilots.
-
Maybe Not Too Spicy: FAA Medical Updates for Acid Reflux to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review the latest FAA updates on a variety of conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), retinal dystrophies, and the CACI qualification for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
-
Go With the Flow: Updates on drones and clots
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss the amazing advancements in the world of drone technology -- the fastest growing sector in the aviation space. In addition, we review thromboembolic disease, the medical term for clots either in the lung or in an extremity that can be life-threatening,...
-
Restructuring for the Future and Updating GI Conditions
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we return from a mid-winter hiatus back to the studio with a new practice location as part of a Mayo Clinic rebuild of the entire downtown campus. Plus, restructuring at the FAA, and a review of current updates regarding liver disease, including steatohepatitis,...
-
Holiday Happiness in the "Land of Misfit Toys"
Send us Fan Mail Many pilots who have visited the Mayo Clinic Section of Transportation Medicine had early Christmas presents this year when they received their medical certificates. On this episode, we review some of those cases and update listeners on the newest FAA aeromedical certification...
-
Discover a "Secret Resource" to Speed Up Your Aeromedical Certification
Send us Fan Mail As the holiday season approaches, one gift to pilots is the AME Guide available from the FAA on line as an insider resource to aviators preparing for their flight physicals. Think of preparation for a flight physical as a pre-flight inspection of yourself. Medical conditions…
more -
Seeing Through Glaucoma
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review glaucoma, one of the most common causes of visual acuity loss in older adults and gradually affects visual field of pilots if not detected early. That early detection is a key factor in preventing its effects. What about aeromedical certification...
-
Certification After Sudden Cardiac Death Episodes or with Brugada Pattern on ECG
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we access a world expert on complex cardiac arrhythmias that can result in sudden cardiac death. Can a pilot resuscitated on the flight deck or in the field actually get back to flight duty? What trends are being seen in the FAA cardiology panel when it comes to...
-
Wheeze Bad -- A Short Primer on Certification with Respiratory Issues
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we interview Dr. Wigdan Farah, a pulmonologist in Mayo Clinic's Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine to discuss several respiratory conditions seen commonly in pilots seeking medical certification -- then review aeromedical implications and requirements.
-
Legal Beagles - Aeromedical Certification from the Perspective of an Aviation Attorney
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we ask a few questions of an aviation attorney as it pertains to aeromedical certification. How worried do pilots need to be about falsification on on a medical application -- intended or unintended? What is the liability for using BasicMed as an alternative to...
-
Government shutdown? What now? Let's talk Skin Cancer
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review any potential changes in flight physical reviews on the basis of the government shutdown. In addition, with the outstanding weather this fall in the upper Midwest, we review ultraviolet radiation effects as it pertains to skin cancer and how that can...
-
FAA Updates from the Civil Aviation Medical Association meeting and AME Grand Rounds
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss items learned at the Civil Aviation Medical Association meeting (CAMA) in Spokane, Washington along with a few updates from the FAA communicated on the recent AME Grand Rounds held virtually this past week.
-
Will Low Platelet Counts Prevent Issuing a Medical Certificate?
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Atrial Fibrillation: A Fluttering Heart and Aeromedical Implications
Send us Fan Mail 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.
-
Head Trauma and the Pilot: Boo boo on the Noggin' to Skull Fractures and Brain Bleeds
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Searching for the "Cog" in the Wheels of the Mind: Neuropsychology Testing in Pilots
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Alphabet Soup of Aeromedical Certification Acronyms
Send us Fan Mail 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.
-
EAA's AirVenture Highlights and Hosting an FAA AME Refresher Seminar
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
What Happens When an AME is the Patient/Pilot?
Send us Fan Mail 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.
-
Dark Pee? Think Hep C! Navigating FAA Certification with Hepatitis
Send us Fan Mail 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.
-
Leading for the Future of Aerospace Medicine
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we visit with soon-to-be retired Executive Director of the Aerospace Medical Association, Jeff Sventek. His insights from more than 30 years in the United States Air Force along with 15 additional years guiding the leading specialty organization for Aerospace...
-
Cheating on the FAA Medical Application Form 8500-8 (or Just an Oversight)??
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss a pilot who was charged with making false statements on the FAA medical application form and what implications that might have including possible jail time or fines. How does one balance the need to be complete with that of unnecessary worry about...
-
Spring Brings Pollen and a Push for Supercharging ATC Hiring
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review the recently announced FAA strategy for hiring more air traffic controllers -- all while addressing the first pollen burst of the year and how pilots can navigate using antihistamines and other medications without jeopardizing their medical certificate.
-
The FAA is Listening: Do You Know About the "3Es?"
Send us Fan Mail At the latest AME Grand Rounds, medical examiners heard updates from the FAA regarding a recent listening session in which a variety of aviation-related organizations provided insight into how the FAA's medical divisions could improve -- and they're listening. On this episode, we...
-
FAA Certification for the "Baby Brother of Diabetes" -- Pre-Diabetes
Send us Fan Mail Although a very common condition, the presence of glucose intolerance or what the FAA calls "pre-diabetes" can result in medical certification -- and in some cases, does not even require Special Issuance Authorization. What are the newer drugs allowed and what is required to…
more -
HIMS -- Not just a Pronoun!
Send us Fan Mail The Human Intervention and Motivational Study, also known as the HIMS Program is an occupational substance abuse treatment program dedicated to helping all pilots return to the cockpit or flight deck. HIMS-trained AMEs, neuropsychologists, and psychiatrists in conjunction with...
-
"I passed out and I have no idea what happened." Now what?
Send us Fan Mail Episodes of syncope or loss of consciousness can result from something as simple as a brief fainting episode -- up to the level of a severe head injury. How it's documented and the testing required for FAA purposes can be critical. On this episode, we discuss the aeromedical...
-
Scanning the Heart with CT imaging: Good idea for pilots, or not?
Send us Fan Mail On this episode we review the technology of coronary artery CT scanning and CT angiography. Although used as an effective screening tool for certain individuals, is this imaging something that pilots should pursue? What happens if an elevated coronary calcium score is identified?...
-
MedXPress or MedXSlow? You Make the Call
Send us Fan Mail The FAA medical application, Form 8500-8, is completed electronically through the electronic platform called MedXPress. Are you ready for your next flight physical? What potential pitfalls are there with filling out the application form and how can you prevent those? We cover…
more -
What Happens if Your Kidneys Get Stoned?
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review aeromedical certification consequences of passing kidney stones. Major issue or just a "small pebble" in the shoe of a long aviation career? Plus, we break down the new Air Force One Boeing 747 plagued by delays and cost overruns.
-
Another AME Joins the Mayo Team
Send us Fan Mail On this episode we cover some of the topics discussed at the recent FAA aviation medical examiner grand rounds such as more information on color vision screening and CACI qualification for "low T," and we meet the newest addition to the Mayo Clinic aeromedical team.
-
So I was Walking Along the Beach Minding My Own Business When.....
Send us Fan Mail From stories of a pilot getting knocked out by a wild horse while walking along a beach to discussing the details of aeromedical certification with bladder cancer, this episode has a little bit of everything.
-
Broken Heart on Valentine's Day? How to Get Your FAA Medical With Bundle Branch Block or a Heart Transplant
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss bundle branch block and what is required if a heart transplant is required for severe cardiac disease. What is bundle branch block? Is it a deal breaker? And is it even possible to get a medical if a pilot experiences a condition that requires a heart...
-
What Happens After a Valve Job?
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss what pilots need to be prepared for after undergoing heart valve repair or replacement. How long is the stand down time? What tests are needed? What should the cardiologists say in their note in order to avoid sabotaging the chances for a medical...
-
My Achy Breaky Heart and the FAA
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we look at a common condition unfortunately experienced by many pilots -- whether flying recreationally or for a living -- coronary artery disease. What tests are needed and how can a pilot be adequately prepared through the process of obtaining a Special…
more -
What a Headache!
Send us Fan Mail It's not just the crazy weather headaches to tackle, but some pilots deal with chronic and sometimes severe headaches that can affect aeromedical certification. On this episode, we discuss what medications are allowed by the FAA, which are not, and how best to report chronic...
-
The Questions Keep Coming -- New FAA Color Vision Rules for Pilots
Send us Fan Mail Last month, the FAA announced changes in screening for color vision deficiency. On this episode we discuss what pilots will be directly affected and address some of the common questions being asked right now by our patients and aviation medical examiners across the country. What...
-
There's a New Kid in Town (and it Isn't Santa!)
Send us Fan Mail Mayo Clinic's Section of Transportation Medicine was joined recently by U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and FAA Senior AME Dr. Sheyna Gifford. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses her philosophies and approaches to a successful flight physical -- and the importance of...
-
The Eyes Have It -- Part 2
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we review changes coming to color vision screening for pilots after January 1, 2025, plus chat with Mayo Clinic optometrist Dr. Muriel Schornack to learn more about everything eyes -- from glaucoma suspects to aviators with cool glasses.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach tackles medical topics important to commercial aviators, recreational pilots, or just folks interested in things that fly. Current topics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation trends are explored in a serious but sometimes humorous way. Mayo Clinic Clear Approach focuses on a perspective from "the other side of the gurney." Let us navigate the storms of aeromedical certification, medical issues that may affect pilots, and share experiences with and from other pilots to break through life's sometimes stormy clouds and focus in on a clear approach.
HOSTED BY
Mayo Clinic Aerospace Medicine
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Mayo Clinic Clear Approach have?
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach currently has 112 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Mayo Clinic Clear Approach about?
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach tackles medical topics important to commercial aviators, recreational pilots, or just folks interested in things that fly. Current topics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation trends are explored in a...
How often does Mayo Clinic Clear Approach release new episodes?
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach publishes regularly with 112 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Mayo Clinic Clear Approach?
You can listen to Mayo Clinic Clear Approach on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Mayo Clinic Clear Approach?
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach is created and hosted by Mayo Clinic Aerospace Medicine.
URL copied to clipboard!