Definition
A physician designated by the FAA to conduct medical examinations of pilots and other airmen, and to issue or deny FAA medical certificates based on the standards in 14 CFR Part 67.
Plain English
A doctor approved by the FAA to give pilots their medical exam and issue the medical certificate they need to fly.
Context Anchor
You will encounter AME when reading about pilot medical certification, eligibility to fly, and what to do if a health issue may affect flying privileges.
Why Pilots Care
Every pilot must obtain and periodically renew a medical certificate from an AME before they can legally act as pilot in command.
Intuition Check
Do not read medical examiner here as a coroner or forensic doctor. In aviation, an AME is an FAA-authorized doctor who evaluates whether a pilot meets medical standards to fly.
Example Sentence 1
Before her first solo, the student scheduled a visit with a local AME to obtain her third-class medical certificate.
Example Sentence 2
After the medical certificate expired, the pilot returned to the same AME for a renewal examination.