Disease of the lungs, pleura or mediastinum
What the FAA's documents say about disease of the lungs, pleura or mediastinum, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
FAA term: Disease of the Lungs, Pleura, or Mediastinum
- For a pulmonary embolism the table says to see the Thromboembolic Disease Protocol. Crosscheck's page on blood clots is written from that protocol.
Short version
The Guide's Item 35 table for disease of the lungs, pleura, or mediastinum is for all classes.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Abscesses, active mycotic disease, active tuberculosisAbscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
| Bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomyA bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
| LobectomyA lobectomy | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Disease of the lungs, pleura or mediastinum
- Abscesses, active mycotic disease, active tuberculosis · FAA review
Abscesses, active mycotic disease, or active tuberculosis, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Abscesses … Active Mycotic disease … Active Tuberculosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy · FAA review
A bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Fistula, Bronchopleural, to include Thoracostomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Lobectomy · FAA review
A lobectomy, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Lobectomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- A note on the table, 1
For a pulmonary embolism, for all classes, the table says to see the Thromboembolic Disease Protocol, in both its evaluation data and its disposition.
Pulmonary Embolism … All … See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol … See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol
- A note on the table, 2
For pulmonary fibrosis, for all classes, the table says to see the Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table, in both its evaluation data and its disposition.
Pulmonary Fibrosis … All … See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF ) … See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF )
The FAA pathways for disease of the lungs, pleura or mediastinum
- FAA reviewYour AME defers. The FAA decides.Abscesses, active mycotic disease, active tuberculosis
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: Abscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis: what to submit
The evaluation data the table lists, for an FAA decision.All pertinent medical information and a current status report.
Show the FAA's words: Abscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis: what to submit
Abscesses
Active Mycotic disease
Active Tuberculosis
All
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report
FAA source: Disease of the Lungs, Pleura, or Mediastinum. FAA date 24 September 2025; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: Rows that point to other FAA documents
A pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary fibrosis.For a pulmonary embolism the table says to see the Thromboembolic Disease Protocol. For pulmonary fibrosis it says to see the Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table.
Show the FAA's words: Rows that point to other FAA documents
Pulmonary Embolism
All
See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol
See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol
FAA source: Disease of the Lungs, Pleura, or Mediastinum. FAA date 24 September 2025; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
All
See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF )
See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF )
FAA source: Disease of the Lungs, Pleura, or Mediastinum. FAA date 24 September 2025; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 3: See your AME
The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.Exam day- The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Show the FAA's words: See your AME
Abscesses
Active Mycotic disease
Active Tuberculosis
All
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report
Requires FAA Decision
FAA source: Disease of the Lungs, Pleura, or Mediastinum. FAA date 24 September 2025; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Abscesses, active mycotic disease, active tuberculosisDefers to the FAAFAA review
The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
If the examiner defersBronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomyDefers to the FAAFAA review
The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
If the examiner defersLobectomyDefers to the FAAFAA review
The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Abscesses, active mycotic disease, active tuberculosis · FAA review
Abscesses, active mycotic disease, or active tuberculosis, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Abscesses … Active Mycotic disease … Active Tuberculosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy · FAA review
A bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Fistula, Bronchopleural, to include Thoracostomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Lobectomy · FAA review
A lobectomy, for all classes. The table asks for all pertinent medical information and a current status report, and says it requires an FAA decision.
Lobectomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
If the examiner defersFAA review
For abscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
For a bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
For a lobectomy, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1. All pertinent medical information and a current status report.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
For abscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
Abscesses … Active Mycotic disease … Active Tuberculosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Reason 2
For a bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
Fistula, Bronchopleural, to include Thoracostomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
- Reason 3
For a lobectomy, the table says it requires an FAA decision.
Lobectomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1
All pertinent medical information and a current status report.
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report
Good 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.
These rows require an FAA decision
For abscesses, active mycotic disease or active tuberculosis; a bronchopleural fistula, to include thoracostomy; and a lobectomy, the table says the condition requires an FAA decision. It names no Special Issuance.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
Abscesses … Active Mycotic disease … Active Tuberculosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision … Fistula, Bronchopleural, to include Thoracostomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision … Lobectomy … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report … Requires FAA Decision
Pulmonary embolism and pulmonary fibrosis point to other FAA documents
For a pulmonary embolism the table says to see the Thromboembolic Disease Protocol, and for pulmonary fibrosis the Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table. In both its evaluation data and its disposition, each row says only to see that document.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
Pulmonary Embolism … All … See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol … See Thromboembolic Disease Protocol … Pulmonary Fibrosis … All … See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF ) … See Pulmonary Fibrosis Disposition Table ( PDF )
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.
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.