Trans Pilots Allowed to Fly: FAA Updates Medical Requirements

[SandraJane]

Advancing Transgender Equality



Trans Pilots Allowed to Fly: FAA Updates Medical Requirements


August 12, 2012


http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/trans-pilots-allowed-to-fly-faa-updates-medical-requirements/


The FAA has released new medical certification procedures for trans pilots, eliminating unnecessary psychological testing that had previously been required. Going forward, medical certification for transgender pilots will require only submitting current clinical records together with an evaluation from a psychiatrist or psychologist, as well as a report on any surgery (if applicable). The new requirements are listed in a new section of the agency's Aviation Medical Examiner Guide, which can be found here.

The FAA requires that all pilots receive medical and psychological clearance to fly, and these procedures can be quite demanding. However, in recent years many transgender pilots had been required to undergo an expensive, burdensome and unnecessary battery of psychological tests including personality, projective and intelligence tests and others. Many transgender pilots were grounded due to such requirements and some even lost their jobs. While the FAA is understandably wary of any potential safety risk, requiring all these tests just because a person is transgender simply didn't make medical sense.

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Federal Aviation Administration


http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/app_process/exam_tech/item41/amd/grs/


Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners

Decision Considerations - Aerospace Medical Dispositions
Item 41. G-U System - Gender Identity Disorder

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and gender reassignment require a complete review of the individual's relevant medical history and records. For initial consideration the Examiner must defer and submit the following to AMCD or RFS:

Retrieved from the Internet on August 13, 2012 by SJ

[lilacwoman]

no reason why a transsexual pilot should be any riskier than a lesbian or homosexual one is there?

[MadelineB]

FAA Eliminates Unnecessary Psychological Testing for Transgender Pilots
The Federal Aviation Administration has done away with medical certification procedures that singled out trans pilots.
BY CAMILLE BEREDJICK
AUGUST 13 2012 3:44 PM ET

http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2012/08/13/faa-eliminates-unnecessary-testing-trans-pilots

The Federal Aviation Administration has released new medical certification guidelines for transgender pilots, eliminating several rounds of unnecessary psychological testing that were once required.

The FAA requires thorough medical and psychological clearance of all pilots before they are allowed to fly. But trans pilots in particular were previously required to undergo additional psychological tests such as personality, projective, and intelligence tests, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

According to Harper Jean Tobin, director of public policy for the National Center for Transgender Equality, the FAA guidelines were unclear in their stance on trans pilots and lacked any rational medical backing, resulting in a slew of unnecessary tests that singled out pilots who are trans.



New FAA Procedures End Unfair Burdens on Transgender Pilots
August 13, 2012 | Robin Maril
HRC Blog

http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/new-faa-guidelines-eliminate-burdensome-testing-for-transgender-pilots/



These requirements kept many transgender pilots from working, and some even lost their jobs.

The recent changes put an end to these additional requirements, ensuring transgender pilots are treated like their peers. The revised medical certification for transgender pilots now requires only submitting current clinical records together with an evaluation from a psychiatrist or psychologist, as well as a report on any surgery (if applicable). You can read the revised requirements on FAA's website.

HRC applauds FAA for making this change, as well as our colleagues at the National Center for Transgender Equality and Representatives Barney Frank and Mike Honda for their advocacy with the agency on behalf of transgender pilots.