Tourettes

[mikebeechsomerset]

I have mild Tourettes, diagnosed in 2003, and have come back to aviation after a four year break and have now been refused both class 1 and class 2 medicals by the CAA. First is this right and second can I appeal?

I have over 300 hours on various types and have demonstrated my safety as the CAA have acknowledged. They suggest dropping from PPL to NPPL as the requirements are "less stringent" to quote them.

So what makes me safe in an aircraft on an NPPL and unsafe on a PPL?

To make matters worse I have been studying for a CPL as I had wanted to go commercial. Do I continue in the hope that the CAA change their minds or do I stop?

Any advice would be welcome.

[neilcharlton]

was it because of your Tourettes that you were refused the medical ?
Sight discrimination if it is , draft a court proceedings letter etc. Say you'll go to the national press etc ....
sure that will make them change their minds !
good luck

[mikebeechsomerset]

They say that Tourettes is "incompatible" with a class 1 or 2. I am also on a very low dose of a drug called Sulpiride which completely controls the symptoms so I am now "normal" if you like. They also do not like the drug, even at a low dose which does not affect me, and cannot suggest an alternative. My consultant says I am perfectly safe to fly as do the caa examiners who have checked me out. My plan is to get a consultants letter, another from my GP and testimonials from the examiners/FIs as to my competence. Also I'll be talking with my MP. It seems, for the NPPL, that as long as I pass the DVLA requirements to drive, then I can fly - albeit only in the uk in good weather etc. What I want to do is carry on with my CPL. So if anyone from the CAA is reading this then perhaps they can explain why my condition is proscribed. I reckon I have a fight on my hands but I'm hopeful I can win.

At the moment I'm still flying but have to do so with an instructor or safety pilot. Not giving up yet.

[aw8565]

Good luck to you guys! Don't let em get you down!

[ChocksAwayUK]

I remember a tourettes sufferer/airline pilot posting on Pprune a couple of years ago. Do a search?

[rhovsquared]

ChocksAwayUK:

the situation that you're in sounds terrible. it's a damn shame they'd do that to your medical for such a mild and controllable disorder, in your case.

Aviation medicine as a whole seems to not follow the art, science, or technique of true Medicine - instead it seems like a form of eugenic selection based largely upon outdated criterias and protocols from the '40's and 50's. and bears little relation to real health and disease or risk/benefits - nor has anything in many cases to do with true 'human airworthiness'. :confused:

Hope you gain your Class 1 back soon - if not I'd fight this like hell

g'day

rhov :)

[2close]

The question below is from the Disability Rights Commission website. Whilst the question relates specifically to Colour Vision Deficiency you can apply it to other conditions.

The answer to the question is quite specific in that it states that you can only be refused a medical certificate if you fail to achieve a standard of competency required to carry out the necessary actions required to be a professional pilot.

The question that needs to be asked, therefore, is whether or not your condition does affect your competency and if it does not then I believe you would have a case for action.

But as in all of these matters, you are better off talking to a legal expert who specialises in disability discrimination cases, particularly one who has an interest in avaition matters.

Q:

I have been refused a professional pilot's licence because I have defective colour vision. I have passed certain tests that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) set but was unable to distinguish between red and green. Is the CAA discriminating against me by refusing to give me a licence?

A:

The CAA is a professional qualification body and has a duty not to treat people less favourably for reasons relating to their disability. However, it is likely that it will be justified in not awarding a licence to you if the ability to distinguish between red and green is a competence standard which is required to be a professional pilot.

HTH

2close