Mayo Clinic Clear Approach
Mayo Clinic Clear Approach tackles medical topics important to commercial aviators, recreational pilots, or just folks interested in things that fly. Current topics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation trends are explored in a serious but sometimes humorous way. Mayo Clinic Clear Approach focuses on a perspective from "the other side of the gurney." Let us navigate the storms of aeromedical certification, medical issues that may affect pilots, and share experiences with and from other pilots to break through life's sometimes stormy clouds and focus in on a clear approach.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 18 minutes
- Episodes
- 89
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Time for a valve job?
In this episode, we go single pilot and cover one of the most common valvular heart issues -- mitral valve regurgitation. For stable established cases of mild severity, a pilot might no…
Drones to Stones
Drones, love 'em or hate 'em, are here to stay. The FAA announced groundbreaking approvals this week for commercial drone operations of delivery packages involving unmanned aircraft out…
Walking Through AirVenture, the Future of Aviation, and Hepatitis C
On this episode, we reflect on EAA's AirVenture 2024, Boeing's forecast for the future of personnel needs in the field of aviation, and CACI qualification criteria for chronic Hepatitis…
Don't Let High Blood Pressure Bring You Down
One of the most common medical conditions encountered by pilots is elevated blood pressure. On this episode we discuss what is allowed for maximum blood pressure levels, what medicatio…
Back on Track
Mitch and Clay return from vacation and step back up to the Clear Approach podcast microphone. On this episode, they discuss updates to the FAA's approach to "uncomplicated" anxiety and…
Protect Your Beans -- Getting Certified With Chronic Kidney Disease
Most of us take for granted the bean-shaped organs located along our flanks that are responsible for filtering the blood and maintaining fluid balance in the body. But what happens wh…
Change is in the Air! Streamlining is Coming to the Certification Process
Several announcements this week to FAA aviation medical examiners by the agency will significantly decrease the burden on pilots with certain uncomplicated mental health conditions, el…
Is it a Shakedown -- or Just Essential Tremor?
The presence of a tremor has, in the past, delayed efforts of pilots to become medically certified. Use of CACI criteria now streamlines the process. In this episode, we review what i…
Ouch! The Aches and Pains of Arthritis on the FAA Medical Application
Pilots often forget to report arthritis or musculoskeletal injuries on their FAA medical application. On this episode, we walk.....er, tiptoe....through the process of reporting these …
Whisperings at ASMA and Updates on Weight Loss Drugs
The Aerospace Medical Association (ASMA) is the largest gathering of aviation and aerospace experts in the country with its recent annual meeting concluding in Chicago this week. We di…
Wheeze Bad
Asthma is a common condition in the general population and is often worse during allergy seasons in the spring and fall. Is being diagnosed with asthma a significant barrier to obtainin…
Got rhythm? Atrial Fibrillation and How To Maintain Your Medical Certificate
Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent treated heart arrhythmia. We meet with a cardiology expert to discuss assessment, treatment, and new trends in taking care of the condition -- …
Thyroid Disease: Does this "Black Box" Gland "Box" Your Medical?
The thyroid is often considered the "black box" gland -- not only to patients and pilots, but also to their providers. In this episode, an expert in thyroid disease helps navigate comm…
The ARC Sails Into New Waters of Mental Health Awareness
On this episode we review current events -- from three new antidepressant medications announced by the FAA as allowable for aeromedical certification to a recent report released by the…
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Diabetes is a condition that not only can affect your health, but also your FAA aeromedical certification. On this episode we interview an expert in diabetes who is also a pilot to lea…
What's That Sound? Drone on...........
Operation of remote unmanned aircraft, otherwise known as drone operation, has become the fastest growing segment of aviation in the country. What does it take to become a drone pilot …
The Eyes Have It
One of the most common issues affecting pilots is that of visual acuity. On this episode, a Mayo Clinic optometrist covers the most common eye issues facing pilots. Are those aviator s…
Getting Inside A HIMS Psychiatrist's Head
Although almost everyone experiences ups and downs of mood and attitude, some pilots encounter mental health conditions that require detailed assessments and testing in order to qualify…
The Ups and Downs of Hot Air Ballooning
On this episode we dust off things in the hangar, get ready for the prime of flying season, and discuss hot air ballooning ups and downs -- from what's required in an annual inspection …
Things That Go Bump in the Night: A Pilot's Primer on Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders are some of the most common conditions requiring Special Issuance Authorization clearance from the FAA. On this episode, we he…