Alzheimer's disease or dementia
What the FAA's documents say about alzheimer's disease or dementia, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
FAA term: Alzheimer's Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or DementiaCovers: All classes
Show the FAA's words: which classes the FAA's table covers
ALZHEIMER's DISEASE OR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (MCI) or DEMENTIA All Classes
Cognitive or mental impairment
The FAA's Item 46 Neurologic list names Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in the titles of two tables, this one and the table for cognitive or mental impairment or dysfunction and cognitive disorder, which has its own page. This page does not say which of the two a case belongs to.- The FAA's table of other neurologic conditions also names Creutzfeldt Jacobs Disease (as printed), as an example of slow viral disease, with evaluation data of its own.
Short version
The disposition table has two rows.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Row AAlzheimer's disease, MCI, or dementia from the causes listed or others | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
| Row BA pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition | Defers to the FAA | Special Issuance |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Alzheimer's disease or dementia
- Row A · FAA review
Alzheimer's disease, or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or dementia from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, mixed dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, vascular dementia, or others. The table asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist, and says in most cases this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. The examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA.
A. Alzheimer's disease OR Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) OR Dementia from: • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; • Frontotemporal dementia; • Lewy body dementia; • Mixed dementia; • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus; • Vascular dementia; or • Others Submit the following for FAA review: The most recent detailed, Clinical Progress Note performed by the treating physician or neurologist. … In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. DEFER Submit the information to the FAA.
- Row B · Special Issuance
A pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition. The table lists what to submit for FAA review, and the examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance. Its note says that upon receipt and review of that information, additional documentation may be required.
B. Pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance. … Note: Upon receipt and review of the above information, additional documentation may be required.
The FAA pathways for alzheimer's disease or dementia
- How this pathway works: Special IssuanceAuthorization for Special Issuance of a Medical CertificateRow B
- FAA reviewYour AME defers. The FAA decides.Row A
Which one describes yours?
The FAA's table sorts it these ways. Choose yours to see its plan.
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: Row A: what to submit
Alzheimer's disease, MCI, or dementia.The most recent detailed progress note from your treating physician or neurologist.
It must include
- A detailed summary of the history of the condition
- Current medications, dosage, and side effects, if any
- Physical exam findings
- Results of any testing performed
- Diagnosis
- Assessment
- Plan (prognosis)
- Follow-up
Show the FAA's words: Row A: what to submit
Submit the following for FAA review: The most recent detailed, Clinical Progress Note performed by the treating physician or neurologist. It must include a detailed summary of the history of the condition; current medications, dosage, and side effects (if any); physical exam findings; results of any testing performed; diagnosis; assessment; plan (prognosis); and follow-up.
FAA source: Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia. FAA date 22 February 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety.
FAA source: Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia. FAA date 22 February 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: See your AME
The table asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist, and says in most cases this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. The examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA.Exam day- The table asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist, and says in most cases this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. The examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA.
Show the FAA's words: See your AME
A. Alzheimer's disease OR Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) OR Dementia from: • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; • Frontotemporal dementia; • Lewy body dementia; • Mixed dementia; • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus; • Vascular dementia; or • Others Submit the following for FAA review: The most recent detailed, Clinical Progress Note performed by the treating physician or neurologist.
In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. DEFER Submit the information to the FAA.
FAA source: Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia. FAA date 22 February 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Row ADefers to the FAAFAA review
The table asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist, and says in most cases this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. The examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA.
If the examiner defersRow BDefers to the FAASpecial Issuance
The table lists what to submit for FAA review, and the examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance. Its note says that upon receipt and review of that information, additional documentation may be required.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Row A · FAA review
Alzheimer's disease, or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or dementia from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, mixed dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, vascular dementia, or others. The table asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist, and says in most cases this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. The examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA.
A. Alzheimer's disease OR Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) OR Dementia from: • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; • Frontotemporal dementia; • Lewy body dementia; • Mixed dementia; • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus; • Vascular dementia; or • Others Submit the following for FAA review: The most recent detailed, Clinical Progress Note performed by the treating physician or neurologist. … In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. DEFER Submit the information to the FAA.
- Row B · Special Issuance
A pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition. The table lists what to submit for FAA review, and the examiner defers and submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance. Its note says that upon receipt and review of that information, additional documentation may be required.
B. Pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance. … Note: Upon receipt and review of the above information, additional documentation may be required.
If the examiner defersSpecial Issuance
The table marks Row B, a pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition, DEFER, and says to submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
The table marks Row B, a pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition, DEFER, and says to submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance.
B. Pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance.
What a Special Issuance is
The Guide says an Authorization for Special Issuance, valid for a specified period, may be granted at the Federal Air Surgeon's discretion to a person who does not meet the established medical standards, if the person shows to the satisfaction of the Federal Air Surgeon that the duties authorized by the class of certificate applied for can be performed without endangering public safety during the period the Authorization would be in force.
How the FAA pathways workGood to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
What a progress note must include
In most cases it should come from a visit with the treating physician no more than 90 days ago, and cover the history, medications with dosages and side effects, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, assessment and plan, prognosis and follow-up. The FAA's sheet says to make sure the physician adds the prognosis. A portal note or an After Visit Summary that does not meet these criteria is not enough, and neither is a simple "ok to fly" letter. The FAA's documents also call it a status report.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
your patient portal to print out “notes” or an “After Visit Summary (AVS).” … Patient Portal notes or an AVS that do not meet the criteria listed below for a detailed Clinical Progress Note are NOT sufficient for FAA purposes. … To be “current,” in MOST CASES, the detailed Clinical Progress Note should be from an evaluation in which you saw your treating physician no more than 90 days ago. … It Must include the following items: … A summary of the history of the condition, … Current medications, dosages, and side effects (if any); … Clinical exam findings; … Results of any testing performed; … Diagnosis; … Assessment and Plan; … Prognosis (This item may not be on a standard progress note, make sure your physician adds this information.); and … Follow-up … Please note: A letter stating, “Mr. Smith is ok to fly” (or any other simple note), is NOT a current, detailed Clinical Progress Note and is NOT acceptable. … You may also see this called a “current status report” or “status report” in current FAA Guidance. Any reference to a “status report” equals the criteria listed on this sheet.
The two rows end differently
Row A ends DEFER, Submit the information to the FAA. Row B ends DEFER, Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. DEFER Submit the information to the FAA. B. Pre-clinical Alzheimer's condition … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance.
The table's words on aviation safety
Row A's evaluation data says that in most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety. These are the table's words, shown as printed.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
In most cases, this condition is incompatible with aviation safety.
Row A asks for the most recent note
Row A asks for the most recent detailed clinical progress note performed by the treating physician or neurologist. Row B's items 1 to 3 each say no more than 90 days before the exam.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 4
The most recent detailed, Clinical Progress Note performed by the treating physician or neurologist. … no more than 90 days before the AME exam … no more than 90 days prior to your AME exam
The MRI goes on CD, with the report on paper
For Row B the table says to submit the MRI's interpretive report on paper and the imaging on CD in DICOM readable format, with a file named 'DICOMDIR' in the root directory of the CD-ROM, and to verify the CD will display the images before sending.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 5
Submit the interpretive report on paper and imaging on CD in DICOM readable format (there must be a file named 'DICOMDIR' in the root directory of the CD-ROM). Please verify the CD will display the images before sending.
FAA sources
Every FAA document this page relies on, with the FAA's own date and the date Crosscheck last read it. The documents to print open at the FAA, so they are always the FAA's current ones.
- Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or DementiaOpen to print: Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia, a PDF at the FAA, in a new tab
Special Issuance, FAA review
- Open at the FAA: Pilot Information – What a Detailed Clinical Progress Note must contain, a PDF at the FAA, in a new tab
This reports what the FAA has published. It is not medical advice, and it does not say how the FAA or an examiner will decide a case.