It means that you have met the criteria for a flight physical to be a pilot, at least for the stuff that DoDMERB does. It is not a full class 1 physical.
If you are not applying, don't worry about it.
Morgan, just wait a few minutes and someone with some integrity will gladly answer your question
Sorry to bring up an old thread, but what are the requirements to be "pilot qualified?"
My DoDMERB only says qualified, but when I took my vision test, I scored 20/20 vision with no glasses or contacts so what are some of the other requirements?
They still have the "potentially pilot qualified" designation though, correct? My status says not "PPQ" because of vision problems. This is confusing me because I know they are willing to perform eye surgeries like you mentioned. I have heard there are certain programs that only apply to potentially pilot qualified people too such as the Falcon Foundation. It seems weird that they will only provide those programs to potentially pilot qualified people if they are willing to perform eye surgery. Then again, they won't have to pay for that surgery if someone already has correct vision.The air force doesn't actually qualify you for pilot training until you're actually a cadet. Over the years they've realized 2 very important things.
1) When a person first considers going to the air force academy, the overwhelming majority say "I WANNA FLY".
2) After being at the academy a while; realizing the commitment; and understanding what the air force and military service really is about: LESS than half still say: "I wanna fly".
What the air force and academy concentrate on now is: "Are you medically qualified to be in the air force"? Once you're at the academy, and start moving into your 3rd year, they'll do new physicals to determine if you're pilot qualified.
They can get an idea prior to receiving an appointment, but nothing significant. e.g. 20-300 vision. However; with PRK surgery and such, even initial eyesight conditions may or may not be a condition of being a pilot. Anyway; the air force academy no longer lists individuals as "Pilot Qualified" prior to attending the academy. Just "Medically Qualified" for military service.