UND AEROSPACE
University of North Dakota
John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
All Students planning to begin flight training at UND are required to hold a current
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate. Aviation medical examiners
(AME’s) are designated by the FAA to issue these certificates, following completion
of an application and a physical examination. While we have AME’s at UND, they can
be found in most U.S. cities and in major cities abroad.
There are several reasons for which you could be denied a medical certificate even
if you feel you are in good health. These reasons have to do with medical and/or
legal problems you have had, and should be evaluated before beginning your education
for an aviation-related career. If any of these problems need to be processed to
obtain your certificate, delays are common. Therefore, we advise you to obtain a
FAA medical certificate before coming to UND. You are required to possess a medical
certificate to enroll in the flight laboratories, so get your medical certificate
early to avoid delays.
There are three classes of medical certificates, aptly named first, second, and
third class. First class certificates are required for pilots exercising privileges
of an airline transport rating. Second class medical certificates are needed for
performing commercial operations, and third class medical certificates are adequate
for initial training purposes. We recommend you obtain a second class medical certificate
initially to begin your flight training. There are several reasons for this recommendation:
(1) they are less expensive than first class medical certificates (40-70 versus
$80-$400 for a first class medical certificate), (2) for those of you under the
age of 35, the requirements are identical, and (3) it requires a higher standard
for vision requirements than a third class medical certificate. Although a third
class certificate is adequate for flight training, the visual requirements are not
as stringent as the first and second class certificates. Whatever class of medical
certificate you have we prefer your vision to be corrected 20/20 with lenses or
uncorrected, while operating UND aircraft.
Note to female students: Certain portions of a good physical exam (pelvic and breast
exams, PAP smears) are not part of a FAA medical certificate application. Although
these exams are an important part of monitoring your health, they must be requested
specifically or scheduled separately.
If you have significant medical and/or legal problems, you should have copies of
medical and/or court records for your examiner. You should be aware that drug and
alcohol conviction (yes, paying a fine is a conviction) are considered serious problems
by government and the aerospace industry. Medical and behavior standards of professional
pilot and air traffic controllers are among the highest in our society. Mistakes,
poor judgment, and other "indiscretions of youth" can have lasting consequences
related to your career. Prevention (through responsible behavior) is the key.
While flying at UND, you will be part of our drug and alcohol misuse prevention
program. As in the aerospace industry, our goal is to use education and deterrence
to maintain a safe training environment. The program is designed similar to mandatory
drug and alcohol testing conducted in air carriers and air traffic control centers.
Our program reflects our commitment to the aviation industry’s demand for a "no
tolerance" environment and our regard for safety standards.
Drug and alcohol testing will be done for several reasons. Tests can be ordered
as an initial screening, directed at an individual based on their behavior, speech,
odor or other characteristics, or be done as a result of an accident or incident.
All students participating in flight labs are subject to random drug and alcohol
testing. Positive tests will not only impact your flight status, but can severely
impact your eligibility for a medical certificate. A complete description of the
drug and alcohol program at the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is available
for your review.
Planning is essential with any college endeavor -- especially with an aviation major.
If you have any questions regarding medical certification or the drug-testing program,
please feel free to contact our flight surgeon on faculty:
Dr. Warren Jensen
Phone: (800) 258-1525
Fax: (701) 777-3016
Email: wjensen@aero.und.edu
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