Definition
The Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, and education branch of the FAA, located in Oklahoma City. It oversees the issuance of airman medical certificates, reviews medical applications forwarded by Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs), conducts aerospace medicine research, and provides aeromedical training for pilots and medical personnel.
Plain English
CAMI is the FAA office that handles pilot medical certificates and studies how flying affects the human body. When your medical exam needs further review, your file goes here.
Context Anchor
You may see CAMI mentioned when reading about FAA medical certificates, medical applications that need extra review, or FAA medical policy.
Derivation
‘Civil’ refers to non-military aviation, ‘Aerospace’ covers both flight in the atmosphere and at higher altitudes, and ‘Medical Institute’ identifies it as a dedicated medical body. The name describes exactly what it does: handle medical matters for civilian aviation.
Why Pilots Care
CAMI's research directly shapes the medical standards and testing requirements that determine whether a pilot can hold a valid medical certificate.
Intuition Check
Do not think of CAMI as the local doctor who performs your aviation medical exam. CAMI is an FAA institute that supports the larger FAA medical certification system.
Example Sentence 1
Because the pilot's application was deferred, the AME forwarded the file to CAMI for further review.
Example Sentence 2
CAMI research helps update FAA guidance on conditions that could affect a pilot's eligibility for medical certification.