Pregnancy
What the FAA's documents say about pregnancy, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
Your plan
Step 1: What the page says
Pregnancy under normal circumstances, and what the page recommends.The page says pregnancy under normal circumstances is not disqualifying.
The page recommends
- That your obstetrician be made aware of all aviation activities, so that the obstetrician can properly advise you
At the exam
- Your AME may wish to counsel you about piloting aircraft during the third trimester
The page also says
- The proper use of lap belt and shoulder harness warrants discussion
Show the FAA's words: What the page says
Pregnancy under normal circumstances is not disqualifying.
FAA source: Pregnancy. FAA date 19 January 2016; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
The Examiner may wish to counsel applicants concerning piloting aircraft during the third trimester.
FAA source: Pregnancy. FAA date 19 January 2016; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
It is recommended that the applicant's obstetrician be made aware of all aviation activities so that the obstetrician can properly advise the applicant.
FAA source: Pregnancy. FAA date 19 January 2016; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
The proper use of lap belt and shoulder harness warrants discussion.
FAA source: Pregnancy. FAA date 19 January 2016; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Good to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
The page says under normal circumstances
The page says pregnancy under normal circumstances is not disqualifying. It does not say which circumstances are not normal, or what applies in them.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
Pregnancy under normal circumstances is not disqualifying.
The obstetrician and aviation activities
The page recommends that the applicant's obstetrician be made aware of all aviation activities, so that the obstetrician can properly advise the applicant.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
It is recommended that the applicant's obstetrician be made aware of all aviation activities so that the obstetrician can properly advise the applicant.
Lap belt and shoulder harness
The page says the proper use of lap belt and shoulder harness warrants discussion. It does not say who discusses it.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
The proper use of lap belt and shoulder harness warrants discussion.
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.
- PregnancyOpen to print: Pregnancy, a page at the FAA, in a new tab
Examiner can issue
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.