Pilots Have Duty to Ground Themselves when Ill or Injured

Item 61: CFR § 61.53: Prohibition on Operations During Medical Deficiency

Apr 2014

Abbreviated Briefing:
  • Pilots who know (or should know) they have a medical issue must not fly
  • Legal duty to self-ground is specified in Title 14 CFR § 61.53
  • Does not matter if Airman Medical Certificate has expired or not

Advertisement

Guidance is compiled and interpreted by professional pilots and physicians at FlightPhysical.com from the 2014 AME Guide page 19, FAA and FDA web data (www.FAA.gov & www.FDA.gov), instructions specified in the Aeronautical Information Manual, Federal Air Surgeon Bulletins from 1999-2015, and 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 67 (the FARs).

§61.53 Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.

  1. Operations that require a medical certificate. Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, no person who holds a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter may act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person:
    1. Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation; or
    2. Is taking medication or receiving other treatment for a medical condition that results in the person being unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation.
  2. Operations that do not require a medical certificate. For operations provided for in §61.23(b) of this part, a person shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.
  3. Operations requiring a medical certificate or a U.S. driver's license. For operations provided for in §61.23(c), a person must meet the provisions of?
    1. Paragraph (a) of this section if that person holds a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter and does not hold a U.S. driver's license.
    2. Paragraph (b) of this section if that person holds a U.S. driver's license.

NOTE: 14 CFR § 61.53 was revised on July 27, 2004 by adding subparagraph (c)


This page discussed Pilots Have Duty to Ground Themselves when Ill or Injured


Reminder: use FlightPhysical.com to familiarize yourself with aviation medical regulations and guidelines, but always discuss your specific situation with one or more AMEs before dedicating resources toward expensive clinical workups. Find an AME now