Who clears aviators for flight-related duties after an approved flight physical?

• A. Unit Flight Surgeon
• B. Aviation Medical Examiner
• C. Flight Surgeon
• D. Chief Medical Officer

Answer: (A)

The unit flight surgeon is the on-site aviation medicine physician who signs off on flight status after a flight physical. They review the exam results, interpret any medical limitations, and determine if the aviator is medically fit to perform flight duties within that unit’s operations, clearing them for flight accordingly. The aviation medical examiner may conduct the formal exam for civilian or FAA contexts, but in the military unit, the unit flight surgeon is the authority responsible for clearance. The broader role of a flight surgeon exists, but the actual unit-level clearance comes from the unit flight surgeon. The chief medical officer isn’t the day-to-day clearance authority for flight duties.