{"id":154402,"date":"2026-07-30T13:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T17:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//?p=154402"},"modified":"2026-07-30T13:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T17:34:48","slug":"from-the-clinic-to-the-cockpit-ucf-opens-new-faa-designated-clinic-for-pilots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//from-the-clinic-to-the-cockpit-ucf-opens-new-faa-designated-clinic-for-pilots/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402//","title":{"rendered":"From the Clinic to the Cockpit: UCF Opens New FAA-Designated Clinic for Pilots"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Minutes from one of the world/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s most visited airports, UCF has opened a new clinic to help pilots meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical requirements to fly safely./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

The new 海角直播 Aerospace Medicine Clinic at UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice in Lake Nona is led by William /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cEd/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d Powers, chief medical officer of UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM) and a certified aviation medical examiner./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Pilots operating civilian aircraft must have various levels of FAA medical certification depending on the type of aircraft. Commercial pilots must pass the exam every six months or each year./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cFlight safety depends on healthy pilots,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d says Powers, who is certified to conduct the highest level of FAA exams. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cThat/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s ultimately what we/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019re here to support./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

“Here at UCF, we are … connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can.” /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2014 UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says the clinic is an example of the university/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s mission to educate talent, advance discovery and solve societal challenges that matter./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cThe next era of flight will bring new demands on health and human performance,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d Cartwright says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cHere at UCF, we are meeting those challenges by connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

What sets this clinic apart from others is its ability to more efficiently address the health needs of pilots thanks to a network of UCF College of Medicine faculty physicians, university officials say./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

The clinic marked its opening with a ceremony today./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Assessing Safety and Minimizing Risk/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Medical clearance for pilots is /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201call about risk,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d Powers says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cThe FAA has to assess the risk of a pilot experiencing a sudden incapacitation while flying. That/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s really what these exams are focused on./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

For that reason, the UCF clinic will not focus on diagnosing disease, but on identifying and acting on any condition that might endanger pilot, crew and passenger safety./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

In addition to a physical exam, pilots must pass hearing and vision tests, including demonstrating that they are not color blind. Airline pilots receive an electrocardiogram every year, while other pilots, like hobbyists, may receive an electrocardiogram if there is evidence of heart disease. Physicians also review medical history and discuss any health concerns that could affect flight safety./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Even manageable chronic conditions like high blood pressure can temporarily delay certification until the condition is treated, stabilized and controlled./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cWhen you/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019re flying an airplane, you don/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019t have the luxury of pulling over and waiting for help like if you/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019re a truck driver,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d Powers says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cYou must be aware at all times. If you/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019re responsible for an aircraft full of passengers, the FAA wants to minimize the chance of a sudden incapacitation./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

A Vast Network of Expertise/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Complicated medical cases are referred to the FAA for further review, and pilots may need additional interventions to meet certification standards. That/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s where the College of Medicine/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s physician practice offers a distinct advantage, Powers says./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

“We can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance.” /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2014 William “Ed” Powers, chief medical officer of the CASEEM/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Unlike private clinics that do pilot certification exams, UCF offers multiple medical specialties under one roof and a team approach to care./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cWe can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d Powers says./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Powers brings decades of expertise in space and aviation medicine. Before joining UCF, he was chief of NASA/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u2019s Medical Operations Branch, director of flight medicine for Axiom Space and director of the aerospace medicine residency program at the 海角直播 of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

Powers also worked inside the FAA as a supervisory medical officer. He says that experience gives him a firm understanding of what the FAA requires, making the process smoother for everyone./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201cThat means fewer delays, fewer mistakes in paperwork and a more efficient process for pilots whose livelihoods depend on getting certified,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/u201d he says./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/154402/n