Air Force Officer Loses Leg, Re-enters Pilot Training

According to an Air Force News release, 1Lt Ryan McGuire has been granted a medical waiver to return to pilot training with a prostethic leg below the knee.

McGuire was reportedly injured in a boating accident during pilot training; since having his lower leg amputated, he has run the Air Force Marathon.  He was found medically fit for duty just this past August, and at the end of October his medical waiver for pilot training was approved.

The article indicates that other active pilots have used prosthetics, including C-130 pilot Maj Alan Brown and former Air Force Two pilot LtCol Andrew Lourake — who was reportedly the first active pilot to return to flight status after amputation.  There are no stories of fighter pilot amputees immediately available.

McGuire appears to be the first student to return to trainee status to gain his wings.  It is not unusual for medical waiver to contain restrictions.  At this point, it is unclear which aircraft McGuire will fly in training, or if he will be restricted to certain airframes after graduation.  If his waiver is blanket, he could conceivably go on to fly any advanced fighter or ejection seat equipped aircraft.  If his story to date is an indicator of his resolve, he may well go far.