FAR 67.109 — First-Class Medical Neurologic Standards
FAR 67.109 sets neurologic standards for a first-class medical certificate, including rules on epilepsy, loss of consciousness, and other conditions.
FAR 67.109 establishes the neurologic standards an applicant must meet to hold a first-class airman medical certificate — the certificate required for ATP privileges. It matters because neurologic events in flight can be sudden, incapacitating, and catastrophic, so the FAA disqualifies applicants whose history suggests that risk.
Under this section, you must have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of:
- Epilepsy;
- A disturbance of consciousness without a satisfactory medical explanation; or
- A transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without a satisfactory medical explanation.
Beyond those automatic disqualifiers, the Federal Air Surgeon may also deny certification for any other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition if, based on the case history and qualified medical judgment, the condition either makes you unable to safely exercise the privileges of the certificate, or could reasonably be expected to do so during the certificate's maximum duration. In short: known epilepsy or unexplained blackouts are disqualifying, and other neurologic issues are evaluated case-by-case.