Many airline pilot applicants go all the way through the various airline selection programs and are not selected. And often, they have little indication why.
Traditionally, applicants exhaustively prepare themselves so they score high in the areas of flying skills and aviation knowledge. But few prepare themselves to pass the most selective aspect of the process: the medical evaluation.
Most pilots are unaware of the weak areas in their overall physical condition and/or medical history. Some of these deficiencies - if known to the pilot -are subject to improvement, or can be corrected if the proper action is taken. By addressing these issues prior to an airline medical examination, the applicant will substantially improve his chances of selection.
Medical Evaluation Limitations
A medical selection process consisting of one or two steps is the policy followed by most of the airlines. For reasons of economy and efficiency, some employ screening tests to "weed out** those pilots whose preliminary test results indicate that they may not pass a more comprehensive evaluation.
Medical testing results (both screening and comprehensive) generally fall into three broad areas of interpretation: normal, borderline or equivocal, and abnormal. Selection is usually made from only that group whose medical tests prove normal.
Airlines are reluctant to ask for follow-up tests on borderline cases for fear that the applicant, who may subsequently be rejected for some other reason, will single out the area requiring follow-up as the item which led to non-selection. As a result, most airlines will not follow up on borderline or ambiguous data, but will instead simply pass over that individual and pick the next qualified applicant. The outcome of this process is that many pilot applicants who might test normally upon follow-up evaluation may lose their chance for employment because of unverified borderline or equivocal test results.
What is the answer? Every pilot applicant should carry with him to the airline medical evaluation a copy of a complete, authentic medical evaluation. This privately obtained, detailed pre-application evaluation can serve two important purposes. First, it helps the applicant in career planning. When fully briefed about his medical limitations, he can more intelligently choose a specific airline whose selection criteria are close to his set of circumstances. For some applicants, the pre-application evaluation may aid the individual in deciding whether to even consider a career as an airline pilot. Secondly, the privately obtained evaluation might serve as valuable ammunition should the individual be a borderline applicant. Here's an example: An applicant being examined by a major airline was found to have a significant hearing loss in one ear, for which he would have been disqualified. Coincidentally, the pilot had brought with him a recent detailed medical evaluation, including an audiogram entirely within normal limits. Investigation revealed an intermittent equipment malfunction in the airline's audiometer. The pilot was hired.
The pre-application medical evaluation should be complete and include all tests and studies reasonably expected at any major airline. The results, including raw data, should be made available in a complete report It is suggested that the evaluation should be more comprehensive than any single airline evaluation, as different airlines have different testing protocols with varying degrees of thoroughness. Pilots faced with medical problems may want to direct their efforts toward companies that check Class I medical certificates but do not conduct a medical exam.
Testing Facility
Evaluations should be conducted by a medical facility with an established reputation in the airline medical community, one known for its professionalism, objectivity, and completeness (Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc.). Choose a facility that has all the equipment and personnel necessary for a thorough evaluation. This will help you avoid the problems that occur when you attempt to have various facilities and practitioners contribute to a single comprehensive report, including loss of continuity, delays in report generation back to the pilot, and a much higher cost for the total evaluation.
Evaluating the Physician
Make sure you select a physician who is knowledgeable in the criteria used by airlines. As with the selection of the facility, the physician who signs the pilot medical evaluation report should be known and trusted by the airline medical community. Stay clear of overly favorable or deliberately biased reports. This will not fool the airline and might just jeopardize the overall credibility of the data in the report Ask the examining physician to "tell it like it is" in his report If the report is unfavorable, simply don't present it to the airline and just take your chances in their medical selection exam.
Raw Data
Your report should contain all copies or raw data, such as electrocardiograms, laboratory reports, etc. Interpretation of the data used by the examining physician may be sufficient for airline medical department needs. Interpretation of some test data varies in the medical community, so be sure to include all the raw data.
Suggested Testing Protocol
No single airline performs all of the various medical tests, measurements, and examination that would constitute a complete medical evaluation for a pilot However, the pilot needs to be aware that a quite wide variety of procedures are being performed in various combinations at major airlines. The private examination, therefore, should be as comprehensive as possible.
Upon request by the pilot, the medical testing facility should forward a copy of the results directly to a prospective airline medical department, with cover letter attesting to the authenticity of the report
Cost
A comprehensive medical evaluation may cost from $350 to $500, depending on the facility, types of individual tests, and location in the country. As the final report document is quite lengthy, most facilities will probably charge for extra copies of the report.
Conclusion
Don't take your physical condition for granted; be prepared and know where you stand before going in for an airline-sponsored "in-house" physical evaluation. Your medical presentation is part of the total package, and you want that package wrapped neatly and securely - and so do the airlines;
(Editor's Note: While the authors agree with the premise of Dr. Anderson's report, we also feel that many airlines would not require such an extensive or costly pre-application medical evaluation. Work within the confines of your budget or available medical facilities, but at least have a prior basic physical examination.)
