Hello all and thank you for the time,

I currently hold an unrestricted 1st class medical, but had to jump through several hoops after seeing an AME for the first time including releasing medical records.

When going through an airline interviewing process do potential employers have access to all medical records and history released to the FAA? Or only that you were approved/denied for a medical certification?

Although the FAA has deemed me fit to fly, I wanted to make sure that resolved medical issues wouldn't stop my ability to work for one of the airlines.

Thank you for the input.

In the old days, the better airlines would give you a full astronaut medical, at least an all day affair, and hold you to their own standards which would make NASA envious. They presumably would have wanted to see documents related to any lingering conditions. But over the years they incurred some legal liability and also had to cut costs as the industry evolved post-deregulation.

These days most majors and I think all regionals simply make a copy of your FAA 1C. Saves them money, avoids labor lawsuits, and lets the FAA be liable for your medical suitability.

A couple airlines still do an exam but it's only after a CJO, and they only verify that you meet 1C standards (in case you got your medical from a Santa Claus AME). Pretty sure those airlines do a normal medical, nothing more nothing less, with an actual AME so you do have to fill to fill out the form and cannot lie (no law against lying to employer, but can't lie to an AME). In that case you might want to have any approval letters you previously got from the FAA, or possibly other medical docs. I'd bring what you have but don't get them out unless asked. Again, only a couple of the legacies will even bother with an exam.

That's for the US. Outside the US, whole different story of course.

the short answer is no, you do not have to provide anything to the airline except a valid FAA medical certificate.

This is encouraging as I was recently told by a senior CA at a legacy carrier that any medical history would result in a denied application. His info seemed based on his hiring experience from long ago which included the “astronaut style” physical. Prior to that discussion, I thought having an unrestricted 1st class medical was enough. Curious if there’s anyone here denied a job with a legacy due to a medical condition that was cleared by the FAA but not the airline. Just trying to figure out if there are more medical hurdles related to my (relatively minor) issue in my future. Thanks in advance!

20 years ago, absolutely. First airline I interviewed at had about a ten minute interview and an eight hour medical exam.

Today, to the best of my knowledge, the worst they will do is give you a thorough FAA 1C medical. Anything which the FAA previously cleared *should* not be an issue (bring the letter/docs).

Will do, and thanks for the reply!