Definition
A medical condition in which a person experiences any loss, alteration, or impairment of normal awareness, alertness, or mental functioning. In FAA medical certification, this includes events such as fainting, seizures, blackouts, transient loss of awareness, or any unexplained episode in which the person was not fully alert and oriented. Such conditions are disqualifying for medical certification unless reviewed and cleared by the FAA.
Plain English
Any episode where a person blacks out, faints, has a seizure, or otherwise loses normal awareness of what is happening around them.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA medical certification discussions and on medical history questions reviewed during an aviation medical exam.
Derivation
From Latin disturbare ('to throw into disorder') and conscire ('to be aware'). Together the phrase literally means a disruption of normal awareness — which is exactly what the FAA is asking about: anything that interrupted the pilot's normal state of being awake and alert.
Why Pilots Care
Any history of this condition must be evaluated because it can impair a pilot's ability to safely operate an aircraft and may result in deferral or denial of medical certification.
Intuition Check
This does not mean ordinary distraction, tiredness, or being emotionally upset. In this medical context, it means an actual episode where awareness or alertness was reduced, lost, or abnormal.
Example Sentence 1
The applicant disclosed a single disturbance of consciousness from a fainting episode in college, which the FAA reviewed before issuing the medical certificate.
Example Sentence 2
During the flight physical the pilot disclosed a brief disturbance of consciousness after a severe illness, prompting the AME to request additional records.