Expert: Rod Powers - 5/27/2007

Question
QUESTION: My question is if i had a kidney nerphyctomey when i was 4 am i able to become a fighter pilot?

I have been doing alot of research and i have not found a straight answer on this.  I know that congential absence of one kidney acquired or at birth is disqualfying and i know that waivers are out there and that they are subjected to a case by case basis but do you know if this is a defianent NO.  I am heading to college in august and im going to be enrolling in AFROTC as it is my dream to fly.  The FAA has already infromed me that this is not a problem for private pilots licenses but i do not know the millitarys view on this.

ANSWER: Hi Jared,

The problem is that you are looking for a definate "no" or "yes" answer, and there isn't any. The Military medical waiver system simply doesn't work that way.

Each and every medical waiver request is evaluated individually, based on *INDIVIDUAL* circumstances. Each and every evaluation is different. I've seen medical conditions which have resulted in disapproval, and the exact same medical condition qualify for a waiver, just two weeks later.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Rod, i have been informed by people whom I do not know if are in the military or not that PRP, i guess which has to do with nuclear weapons will make anyone disqualified with ADHD from flying tactical jets, IE. Fighters,Bombers is this true and if so is there waiver avaible?

Answer
Hi Jared,

It doesn't have so much to do with PRP (Personnel Reliability Program) as it has to do with the requirements of being a Military pilot.

Flying Military aircraft in combat requires an extremely high degree of concentration and attention to detail. An extremely, extremely high degree. A single mistake, or loss of concentration for even a second could mean the loss of a multi-million dollar combat aircraft and the pilot and the aircrew aboard that aircraft.

Military flying requires extreme concentration and multi-tasking -- pretty much all the major things that those with ADHD have problems with. In short, the chances of someone with ADHD becoming a Military pilot are pretty much zero. Waivers (to my knowledge) are not available for this condition.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com