Flying in Healthy Skies

As aviation medical examiners, 10 doctors in Northwest Arkansas fulfill the niche need to medically certify pilots and air-traffic controllers. Once or twice a year, each of the 844 pilots in Washington and Benton counties must attend a medical exam to retain their licenses, and the Federal Aviation Administration authorized these physicians to certify the airmen for flight.

As of August, there were 52 student, 189 private, 68 commercial and 65 air-transport pilots in Washington County, according to the FAA. Benton County had 57 student, 187 private, 107 commercial and 81 air-transport pilots. Forty other pilots were also listed in Northwest Arkansas, but they weren’t categorized.

Dr. Lisa Low, a family practitioner at Mercy-Rogers Medical Center, recently attended one week of training at the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City to become an aviation medical examiner. Low can now conduct class two and three flight physicals for pilots including private pilots, crop dusters, charter pilots, corporate pilots and commercial pilots.

Low monitors the second and third class pilots for medical clearance. A physical, including a thorough eye exam to test the pilot’s reaction time, field of vision and color sight, is included in the annual check up. A review of current medications and a brief psychological exam are also given.

Class 1 exams, reserved for scheduled-airline pilots, can be administered by senior aviation medical examiners. After three years as a basic aviation examiner, physicians can apply for senior status.

Four area doctors — Jerry Hitt, Robert Holder, Joe Rouse and Lawrence Schemel — tend to the 48 Class 1 pilots in Washington and Benton counties. Airline pilots must attend the exams every six months, and the physical includes an electrocardiograph.

Local demand for aeromedical certification services determines the number of aviation medical examiners for an area. Training for the examiner certification is free.

Low said the certification is a big commitment. Aside from the initial classes, examiners must attend refresher courses every three years. Medically certifying pilots for flight also requires staff training for managing the paperwork. Low said any aviation exams will be administered in addition to her normal patient load that averages 24 people per day.

Aviation Medical Examiners in Northwest Arkansas

Russell Green, Lowell

Jerry Hitt*, Bentonville

Robert Holder*, Bentonville

Lisa Low, Rogers

David McAlister, Fayetteville

Gary Moffitt, Lowell

Joe Philip Rouse*, Fayetteville

Lawrence Schemel*, Springdale

William Webb, Gravette

Steven Wilson, West Fork

*Indicates a senior medical examiner.

Source: the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine Civil Aeromedical Institute.