Fighter Pilot Medical Info (Second Attempt)?

Question

Can waivers be received for the following conditions if I want to be a fighter pilot?

- Average blood pressure of 140/70. This is due to having an enlarged, "athletic" heart

- 20/60 vision corrected to 20/10 (-1.00d prescription). No astigmatism, color blindness, etc

- 5% hearing loss due to perforated eardrums as a young child. No ear problems since.

Answer 1

No, no and no.

Answer 2

Well, my answers still stand:

No, your average BP is too high for the military.  If you are taking meds, or it can't be lowered by diet/exercise the flight surgeon(s) will not approve you.  That's how it is.

Your vision is good for AF pilot/nav and USN/USMC Naval Flight Officer

Your hearing loss depending on frequencies impacted might be waiverable.

It never hurts to apply, but I'm sure the recruiter's going to turn you down in the initial screening.

High positive-G maneuvers raise one's blood pressure-as you need to keep blood flowing to one's brain.  Your BP as high as it is would be dangerously high in that situation.

For the FAA/commercial I'm sure it's not a problem.

EDIT:  Bro's I thought it was 20/20 uncorrected as well.  But doing research,and running into a retired Flight Surgeon I know tells me the AF has finally caught on: 20/70 correctable-though you are correct once in most things are waiverable.  (I always thought an enlarged heart lowered BP as well.  In my case I've got "athlete's arrhythmia" from a lot of running-my BP even now is 112/55.)

Answer 3

Blood pressure is the big problem.  And athletic hearts do not produce high blood pressure.

Answer 4

Hi Buddy -

My answer also still stands. As far as I know, you can enter training in the Air Force as a navigator, but not as a pilot, if you have less than 20/20 vision. Once you are in and flying, you can lose some visual performance and keep your wings - it's the getting in part that's an issue. You should ask a recruiter, but it's been that way since I joined in 1972, and I don't know why they would have changed it. John B agrees with me; apparently someone else does not. Maybe someone knows something new that I do not. Certainly possible. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Same answer from me too. And an enlarged athletic heart lowers bp. Whoever told you your elevated bp is because youre an athelete is nuts. I guarantee no military flight sureon will agree with that diagnosis. The eyes and ears usually have to be perfect to be accepted. Once you're a pilot they'll allow waivers since they have so much invested in you already. But to get in, they don't take chances. Too many wannabee fighter pilots to choose from you see.