Pyelitis, pyelonephritis and pyonephrosis
What the FAA's documents say about pyelitis, pyelonephritis and pyonephrosis, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
FAA term: G-U System - Nephritis
- The Guide's Item 41 Inflammatory Conditions page has the rows for acute nephritis, chronic nephritis and nephrosis.
Short version
The G-U System Nephritis table has two rows, and each asks for all pertinent medical information and a status report.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: asymptomaticPyelitis or pyelonephritis, asymptomatic | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
| Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: otherwisePyelitis or pyelonephritis, otherwise | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
| PyonephrosisPyonephrosis | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Pyelitis, pyelonephritis and pyonephrosis
- Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: asymptomatic · Examiner can issue
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis, all classes, where the applicant is asymptomatic. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says Issue if asymptomatic.
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
- Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: otherwise · FAA review
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis, all classes, otherwise than asymptomatic. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says otherwise, Requires FAA Decision.
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
- Pyonephrosis · FAA review
Pyonephrosis, all classes. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition is Requires FAA Decision.
Pyonephrosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … Requires FAA Decision
The FAA pathways for pyelitis, pyelonephritis and pyonephrosis
- How this pathway works: Examiner can issueNo special pathwayPyelitis or pyelonephritis: asymptomatic
- FAA reviewYour AME defers. The FAA decides.Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: otherwise
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: Medical information and the status report
What both rows' evaluation data asks for.All pertinent medical information
All pertinent medical information.
Status report
A status report.
Show the FAA's words: Medical information and the status report
Submit all pertinent medical information and status report
FAA source: Nephritis. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: the disposition
Asymptomatic, and otherwise.For pyelitis or pyelonephritis the disposition has two outcomes.
Issue
- If asymptomatic
Otherwise
- Requires FAA Decision
Show the FAA's words: Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: the disposition
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis
If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
FAA source: Nephritis. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 3: See your AME
The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says Issue if asymptomatic.Exam day- The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says Issue if asymptomatic.
Show the FAA's words: See your AME
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis
All
Submit all pertinent medical information and status report
If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
FAA source: Nephritis. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: asymptomaticExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says Issue if asymptomatic.
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: otherwiseDefers to the FAAFAA review
The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says otherwise, Requires FAA Decision.
If the examiner defersPyonephrosisDefers to the FAAFAA review
The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition is Requires FAA Decision.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: asymptomatic · Examiner can issue
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis, all classes, where the applicant is asymptomatic. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says Issue if asymptomatic.
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
- Pyelitis or pyelonephritis: otherwise · FAA review
Pyelitis or pyelonephritis, all classes, otherwise than asymptomatic. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition says otherwise, Requires FAA Decision.
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
- Pyonephrosis · FAA review
Pyonephrosis, all classes. The evaluation data is all pertinent medical information and a status report. The disposition is Requires FAA Decision.
Pyonephrosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … Requires FAA Decision
If the examiner defersFAA review
For pyelitis or pyelonephritis that is not asymptomatic, the table says otherwise, Requires FAA Decision.
The table marks pyonephrosis Requires FAA Decision.
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1. All pertinent medical information.
- Item 2. A status report.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
For pyelitis or pyelonephritis that is not asymptomatic, the table says otherwise, Requires FAA Decision.
Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
- Reason 2
The table marks pyonephrosis Requires FAA Decision.
Pyonephrosis … All … Submit all pertinent medical information and status report … Requires FAA Decision
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1
All pertinent medical information.
Submit all pertinent medical information and status report
- Item 2
A status report.
Submit all pertinent medical information and 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.
The page titled Nephritis lists other names
The Guide's page titled Nephritis has rows for pyelitis or pyelonephritis, and pyonephrosis.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
Item 41. G-U System - Nephritis … Pyelitis or Pyelonephritis … Pyonephrosis
Asymptomatic is the one condition named
For pyelitis or pyelonephritis the only condition the disposition names for Issue is asymptomatic. Otherwise it says Requires FAA Decision.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
If asymptomatic - Issue; Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision
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.