Interesting an AME here in Australia is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and once they become accredited on various procedures they become Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers .LAME
Aircraft mechanics in the USA start out as an aviation maintenance technician after completing schooling, requiring all certified work to be signed off by a A&P (licensed airframe and powerplant technician). After completing 30 months of on the job experience for both ratings and passing several exams, they get licensed as an A&P and can work independently, signing off all maintenance and/or alterations done. It is possible to become licensed as either an A or P after only 18 months, but one is only allowed to work on related parts of aircraft to their individual rating.
So, in the US, do all Flight Surgeons wear Flight Surgeon wings or just those that have completed the applicable military flight training course? Speaking of which, didn’t some docs, in the past, complete flight training and even fly tactical jets? I believe we once had a doc who was qualified to fly the A-4 Skyhawk here in the Royal Australian Navy.
As a foreign liaison officer on an american airbase i had together with my wife a flight surgeon as our GP. My wife had to undergo a minor operation that was performed by that flight surgeon. A day or so later in the hospital that flight surgeon visited my wife. Se was still in bed and i was visiting her. He was in his flight suite. I asked him when he goes flying if he was dressed in his doctor outfit. He did not like that...
