Flight Medicine
About the Clinic
The Flight Medicine Clinic provides medical and specialty services to active-duty members and cadets on flying status, occupational health examinations for firefighters, security forces, and personnel managed under the occupational health program, and pre-employment physicals for new civilian hires.
Contact & Hours
Fastest way to reach us: send a secure message to “USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic” through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal (my.mhsgenesis.health.mil). How-to instructions are near the bottom of this page.
Phone: appointments and acute issues 719-524-2273 (option 1); front desk 719-333-5950.
After hours: MHS Nurse Advice Line 800-874-2273, option 1, or mhsnurseadviceline.com.
O-Ride and Tandem Jump requests (email only): usaf.usafa.10-mdg.mbx.10-amds-ops-flt-med@health.mil
Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7–11 a.m. and 12–4 p.m. (closed for lunch)
- Wednesday (training day): 9:30–11 a.m. and 1–4 p.m.
- Return to Flying Status (RTFS) walk-in: Mondays and Fridays at 7 a.m. — no appointment needed
Location: 2355 Faculty Drive, Suite 1N308, in the Cadet Area.
Cadets
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Cadet Guide to Care
- Airmanship clearances: send a portal message to USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic stating whether you need a Basic or Advanced clearance. See the Airmanship Programs Reference Sheet (Documents, below) if unsure.
- Basic Airmanship clearance is good for four years or until graduation. Covers Soaring, Powered Flight, and Jump.
- Advanced Airmanship is good for one year or until graduation.
- Seen by Cadet Medicine, Physical Therapy or Orthopedics since your clearance? Check with Flight Medicine before participating.
- Preparing for airmanship? Download the Cadet Flight Med Reference (Documents, below).
Aircrew & Flying Status
Routine care for Flight Medicine enrollees
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Acute issues: call the access to care line at 719-524-2273, option 1, or Flight Medicine at 719-333-5950. Enrollees may also contact the MHS Nurse Advice Line at 800-874-2273 or via video/web chat at mhsnurseadviceline.com.
- Non-acute issues: call 719-524-2273, option 1, or Flight Medicine at 719-333-5950.
Return to Fly (DNIF/RTFS)
Any time you are seen outside the Flight Medicine Clinic, you will be placed in Duties Not Including Flying (DNIF) status and require clearance to return to fly. Send a portal secure message to USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic, call 719-333-5950, or use the RTFS walk-in: Mondays and Fridays at 7 a.m., no appointment needed.
Initial Flying Class (IFC) exams — complete all of the following before scheduling
- Complete the online request via ASIMS: Medical Clearance tab, then Start a New Medical Clearance.
- Complete a Medical History Form DD 2807 and send it via the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal to USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic.
- After you submit your DD 2807, a flight medicine technician will contact you. Please allow 3–5 days.
Periodic Health Assessments (PHA)
- Start your PHAQ from the PHA column of your IMR page (if you are not due, the PHAQ stays locked until the MTF unlocks it).
- When the PHAQ is complete, schedule your audiogram at public health, 719-333-9443.
- Then send a portal message to USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic — or call 719-333-5950 — to schedule your annual PHA/flight physical.
- This appointment also covers the annual MHA requirement.
Waiver renewals
Copy the questions below into a new MHS GENESIS Patient Portal message with your typed responses:
- Rank; Race; Sex; Date of Birth
- DSN phone; Comm phone; Assigned Unit
- Duty Status (Active/Guard/Reserve); ASC (from your myIMR; N/A if not applicable)
- Aircraft type or last aircraft flown; AFSC; Rating
- Flying hours in last 6 months; Flying hours total
- Are you PRP; Orders to PCS — if so, when?
MyIMR / DD Form 2992
How to access MyIMR (Individual Medical Readiness) and your DD Form 2992: see Documents below.
O-Rides, Tandem Jumps & Incentive Flights
Orientation rides (O-Rides)
- Email requests to usaf.usafa.10-mdg.mbx.10-amds-ops-flt-med@health.mil at least two weeks before your flight.
- Active duty: clearance is deferred to the flight line.
- Civilian / non-TRICARE beneficiaries: complete the Orientation Ride Questionnaire (Documents, below) and email it three weeks before the flight date.
- Any “yes” responses are reviewed by Flight Medicine. Once approved, Flight Medicine emails the requestor and the flight line POC, and will reach out if additional information is needed before determining clearance.
Tandem jumps
- All tandem jumps require an in-person appointment with a flight surgeon.
- Complete the Tandem Jump Questionnaire (documents, below) and email it to the address above. After the flight surgeon reviews it, we call you to schedule an exam.
Incentive flights
- All incentive flights require an in-person appointment with a flight surgeon — call 719-333-5950 to schedule.
- Before your appointment, watch the mandatory orientation flight video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRutkXLQF-o or the in-house video.
- If cleared at your appointment, a hard-copy 2992 is completed with an expiration date 40 days from the exam.
Occupational Health & Pre-Employment
Firefighters and Security Forces — occupational exams
- You initiate your own exam: call 719-333-5950 to schedule.
- Bring your current medication list and any relevant medical records from outside providers.
New civilian hires — pre-employment physicals
- Your hiring office (HR) notifies the clinic and sends us the required exam form — you do not need to bring the form yourself.
- Once we have it, we will contact you to schedule, or call us at 719-524-2273 (option 1).
- Bring a current medication list and relevant medical records to your appointment.
How to Utilize the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal
Messages/Consults
- From the Dashboard, click messaging or send a message.
- *If clicked messaging, click send a message from the inbox view.
- In the New Message menu, in the To field, search USAF Academy Flight Medicine Clinic. Add a subject, attach files as appropriate, and send.
Common Questions
Q: I'm DNIF and feeling better. How do I get back to flying?
A: Come to the RTFS walk-in: Monday or Friday at 7 a.m., no appointment needed. Bring documentation from any outside care you received.
Q: I was seen by Physical Therapy or Orthopedics. Can I still fly or jump?
A: Not until you check with Flight Medicine — even if your program clearance is still valid. Message us through the portal before your next event.
Q: Can I wear contacts or my own glasses while flying?
A: No. Only issued BCG frames are approved for flying and jumping per DAFMAN 48-123. No contact lenses, no civilian-purchased glasses.
Q: I have a cold. Should I fly anyway?
A: No. Congestion, ear pain, or sinus pain are do-not-fly conditions — pressure changes can injure your ears and sinuses. Report to Flight Medicine.
Q: How late can I drink alcohol before flying?
A: Your last drink must be more than 12 hours before any aviation event, including briefings and mission planning.
Q: I'm a new hire — how do I get my pre-employment physical?
A: Your hiring office (HR) sends us the exam paperwork directly and we schedule from there. If you have not heard from us, call 719-524-2273, option 1.
Documents
Patient Feedback
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