The covid fit to fly certificate is the perfect way for pilots to maintain their fitness, and it’s also an excellent opportunity for those who want to become certified pilots. This article will provide you with covid facts about this fantastic program.
1) What is this certificate about?
The certificate is a program that allows pilots who are at risk of failing their medical examinations due to obesity, or those with low bone density, to keep flying. This document can be renewed every six months as your weight and BMI have not increased since you received the first covid fit to fly certificate.
2) How does it work?
To apply for this covid fit to fly certificate, you need permission from your doctor or aviation medical examiner (AME). Once they’ve given their approval, you’ll want to print out form AMA-82060 on the AOPA website, fill it in yourself, and send both documents directly back into covid. They will review these papers before sending an application packet off and some information about how covid works to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It fits perfectly with regulations set out by the FAA, which state that any pilot who has had a change of 40 pounds or more since their last fly certificate must reapply.
The information required for your application will be things like basic personal details and confirmation from your doctor about what weight class you fall under: standard, underweight, overweight, or obese. Your BMI also needs to be included as well as all relevant medical history notes. You’ll need at least 26 weeks worth of them covering both physical and mental health issues — even if they don’t relate directly to flying– because covid is concerned with general aviation fitness rather than just aircrew wellbeing.
For certificate applicants, the process is broadly similar, but there are some essential differences. Your GP will need to provide information about your medical fitness for flying. You’ll also have a mandatory check-up with an aviation medicine specialist who can assess any more specific requirements that might be needed depending on how much time has passed since your previous covid assessment (more than 26 weeks or less). They may want to do tests like spirometry (checking lung function) or ECG (the heart’s electrical activity), plus blood pressure checks. This only takes place if it’s thought necessary, though; most people won’t get beyond having their weight taken! The cost of this covid health check varies between practices so before making an appointment, give them a call to find out how much it will be.
The next stage is to have the certificate, which can take up to four weeks to arrive in your post box. Once you have received this, fill it out and send off an application form along with photographs of yourself (no more than three months old) – one photo must show both profiles as well as full-face too – plus any relevant medical reports or letters that might back up what you’ve written on the fitness questionnaire about various conditions you may suffer from.
We hope this information has been helpful to you.