Falconguy

Could someone explain what "passing a company medical" means? Obviously this is over and above the FAA First Class medical...but what is involved? What do they test/look for? I saw this as a requirement on NWAs job board.
I think I am a fairly healthy guy but this seems like a new thing to me...any information would help.

seaav8tor

The FAA medical only certifies your condition at the time the exam is given. Take one step out the door and all bets are off.

The pre employment "Astronaut" exam used to be given to determine if you were a financial risk to the company. Will you be able to keep getting FAA medicals or will you "medical out"?

Now everyone has pretty much abandoned the "Astronaut" exam due to fear of lawsuits. The company exam (if given at all) is just a double check of the paper you have in your hand. Doesn't mean if you have a FAA CL1 you will not bust, but probably not. (I'm not suggesting the exam might not seem more invasive)


The second reason. With fewer dollars in the career, the airlines simply cannot be as picky as they were in the past. The bar must be lowered to match the money.

Case in point. This is no joke. Saw a clinically obese new hire trip over a crew bag, coke bottle glasses went flying, and went limping off due to a twisted ankle.

Falconguy

Wow! Ok thanks for the info. My current company (flying corporate) makes us do an annual "executive physical" in addition to our FAA exam. It IS very invasive (blood work, stool sample, and treadmill stress test...along with some other stuff) so I was surprised that the airlines might be doing something similar...but it doesn't sound like it.

Thanks Again

seaav8tor

For the few remaining airlines that give pre employment exams it's probably very similar to your executive exam. The big difference is now to bust there really has to be something wrong. Much different than in the past where they were trying to predict your future health.

Now, if an exam is given, it's usually AFTER a conditional offer of a job. The cat is out of the bag. If you bust the medical you are going to find out the reason.

Before the medical was mixed in with everything else, THEN the job offer was made or rejection letter sent. You never knew if they disqualified you for medical UNLESS you had a serious CURRENT medical condition. Like cancer. In which case they did let you know.

Flare Armed

We still do a medical at Delta, but its after the conditional offer and is basically a very thorough Class I w/bloodwork, EKG, and a psych meeting. No stool samples unless you get very nervous.

mike734

Alaska used to do a drug test AND a test for nicotine as part of the company medical. I don't think they do that now but still don't hire smokers.

QCappy

They still do a drug test and test for nicotine.