FAR 67.205 — Second-Class Medical ENT Standards
FAR 67.205 sets the ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards for a second-class airman medical certificate, including hearing tests and disqualifying conditions.
In Plain English
FAR 67.205 lays out the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and equilibrium standards you must meet to hold a second-class airman medical certificate — the class required for commercial pilot privileges. It covers three areas:
- Hearing: You must pass at least one of three tests:
- Hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room with both ears at 6 feet, back turned to the examiner.
- Score at least 70% on audiometric speech discrimination testing in one ear or a sound field.
- Pass pure tone audiometric testing within the FAA's worst acceptable thresholds (ANSI 1969 calibration) at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz.
- ENT conditions: You cannot have any disease of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that interferes with (or is aggravated by) flying, or that interferes with clear speech communication.
- Equilibrium: No condition causing or expected to cause vertigo or disturbance of equilibrium.
This matters operationally because commercial pilots must reliably hear ATC, communicate clearly on the radio, and maintain spatial orientation — all critical for safe flight.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 67.205§ 67.205 Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium.
Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards for a second-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) The person shall demonstrate acceptable hearing by at least one of the following tests:
(1) Demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner, with the back turned to the examiner.
(2) Demonstrate an acceptable understanding of speech as determined by audiometric speech discrimination testing to a score of at least 70 percent obtained in one ear or in a sound field environment.
(3) Provide acceptable results of pure tone audiometric testing of unaided hearing acuity according to the following table of worst acceptable thresholds, using the calibration standards of the American National Standards Institute, 1969:
(b) No disease or condition of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that—
(1) Interferes with, or is aggravated by, flying or may reasonably be expected to do so; or
(2) Interferes with, or may reasonably be expected to interfere with, clear and effective speech communication.
(c) No disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of equilibrium.
Poorer ear (Db)
Better ear (Db)
3000 Hz
2000 Hz
1000 Hz
500 Hz
Frequency (Hz)
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What hearing standards must you meet for a second-class medical certificate?
Per FAR 67.205, you must pass one of three tests: hearing a conversational voice at 6 feet with back turned, scoring at least 70% on speech discrimination testing, or meeting the FAA's pure tone audiometric thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz.
Q2What ENT conditions could disqualify you from a second-class medical?
FAR 67.205 disqualifies any disease of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that interferes with or is aggravated by flying, or that interferes with clear and effective speech communication.
Q3How does FAR 67.205 address equilibrium issues?
FAR 67.205(c) prohibits any disease or condition manifested by — or reasonably expected to manifest as — vertigo or a disturbance of equilibrium, since these directly threaten safe aircraft control.
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Related Sections in Part 67
§ 67.1
Medical Certificate Applicability
§ 67.101
First-Class Medical Eligibility
§ 67.103
First-Class Medical Eye Standards
§ 67.105
First-Class Medical ENT Standards
§ 67.107
First-Class Medical Mental Standards
§ 67.109
First-Class Medical Neurologic Standards
§ 67.111
First-Class Medical Cardiovascular
§ 67.113
First-Class Medical Standards