What is considered a significant medical event that must be reported to the FAA?

A significant medical event that must be reported to the FAA includes any loss of consciousness while operating an aircraft. This is because loss of consciousness can severely impair a pilot's ability to control the aircraft, posing a risk to the safety of the flight, the crew, passengers, and people on the ground. The FAA requires pilots to report such incidents to ensure that any underlying medical conditions, which could lead to further incidents, are properly assessed and managed.

Loss of consciousness can be indicative of various medical issues, such as seizures, cardiovascular problems, or other serious health conditions. Reporting these events allows aviation medical examiners to evaluate a pilot's fitness to fly and to implement necessary precautions to uphold safety standards in aviation.

In contrast, while injuries sustained during flight or changes to medication may be important from a health perspective, they do not necessarily require reporting to the FAA in the same critical manner as a loss of consciousness during flight. Flight delays due to medical reasons also do not meet the criteria for mandatory reporting.