For a pilot working in Western Alaska, the amount of daylight during their work day can vary as much as 14 hours between the summer and winter solstice (or more the farther north you go). These aviators often fly multiple legs each day, serving as a transportation link to over 250 villages across the state.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to issue new medical guidance March 2 that will help Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) deal with the issue of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) among pilots – a safety concern that’s been keeping the agency and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) up at night.

In response to concerns from the aviation medical community, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sent out draft guidance for Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to key industry medical representatives to review within 14 days. Untreated OSA has always been and will continue to be a disqualifying medical condition.