Medical Certification - Pilots with Leg Amputations

More than 1.2 million Americans live with the loss or absence of a limb. Each year over 1,000 children are born with limb deficiencies.

Over 130,000 amputations are performed annually as a result of trauma or disease, with 86 % of these amputations involving the legs. Of these, 93% are related to peripheral vascular disease — lousy circulation mostly due to diabetes, hardening of the arteries or cigarette-smoking.

Modern prosthetic limbs allow many motivated amputees to achieve very active and productive lives. This sometimes involves flying. So, what does the FAA look for when an amput...