In October 2019, Federal Air Surgeon Michael Berry explained the agency’s change in policy in a written court filing: “Recent advances in technology and diabetes medical science have allowed the FAA to develop an evidence-based protocol that can both identify a subset of low-risk applicants whose glycemic stability is sufficiently controlled and also ensure these pilots can safely maintain diabetic control for the duration of a commercial flight.” Mike Jackson (Delta), who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, returned to the cockpit this fall after a 10-year hiatus.Įarlier this year, the FAA announced that an individual with insulin-treated diabetes who meets certain standards and follows the approved protocols can apply for the medical certificate required to fly for a U.S.-based airline. Any donation would be great to help find a cure.Capt.
“We are getting very good at treating and managing diabetes in all its form, but there is still no breakthrough in terms of preventing it in the first place or curing the disease after diagnosis. He wants people to consider donating to research to help find a cure. New insulin treatments allow me to fine tune what I need to give me flexibility in my life. “The life expectancy of someone diagnosed with diabetes was just months before insulin. Jeremy says insulin has made his career and life possible. The long-term goal is to return to a major airline company working in the medical department and flying.
#Diabetes pilot career professional
“Losing my career was devastating but finding a new professional passion and getting myself to a point where I can incorporate both professional interests in one career while making a difference to people’s lives has been rewarding.” Jeremy now divides his time between being an aviation medical doctor that services country New South Wales as well as a flying instructor. It was approved last year, and I became the first person with type 1 diabetes to hold a class 1 medical, which means I can fly commercially again.” “In 2017 I put in a submission to lift the ban on people with type 1 diabetes not allowed to pilot commercial planes. “I resigned myself to never being able to pilot a commercial plane again.”īut he soon realised Canada and the UK allowed commercial pilots living with type 1 diabetes to fly, so he set about changing Australia’s regulations. Working part-time as a junior doctor, Jeremy also started flying for a sky diving company. He soon worked out engineering wasn’t the profession for him and went on to become a medical doctor. Jeremy also decided to finish an engineering degree he had started while working at Qantas. Even if nothing else changed, on a sunny day I could still hop in a little plane and go up and have some fun.”
#Diabetes pilot career license
Jeremy focused on getting his ultra-light license back up and running, the only license he was allowed under Australian flying regulations with a diabetes diagnosis. All I could do was put one foot in front of another.” “To have this uncertainty thrown in at the same time was hard, a new diagnosis, job loss, loss of a career and financial instability. It was also a busy time in Jeremy’s personal life, just weeks out from getting married. Every pilot’s license I had worked for was revoked because of my diagnosis.” Not only could I not finish the course, when I came back to Australia, I no longer had a job. “The diagnosis immediately invalidated all of my pilot’s licenses. Jeremy was attending a training course in California to convert his Australian pilot’s license to an American one when he got the news. I spent the first half of my career as a second officer on the 747’s on long haul international routes, before being promoted to first officer on domestic capital cities and to south-east Asia.” “Overnight I went from flying throughout Europe, the US, south-east Asia and north America to nothing. The road to get here has been long and difficult.īefore his diagnosis, Jeremy was an accomplished commercial pilot flying for Qantas for nine years. Jeremy Robertson is the first Australian commercial pilot flying while living with type 1 diabetes.
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