There's a bit of a scrap going on at the moment in OZ involving the Airlines, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and ICAO, regarding the time period for medicals.

Up to about 10 years ago, the medical was done every 6 months. It then changed to 12 months. Now it is thought that for international operations, you must have done a medical within the last 6 months.

What's the situation in other countries ?

Capt Fathom..Don't dwell on it for too long because once you hit forty (40) its every 6 mths in OZ anyway......until they change it again....which doesn't happen that much in OZ does it !!!! yeah right? Hope someone can help on the question.

RTO-5,

I'm 40+ and a medical is valid for 1 year here in Oz; age does not come in to it yet.

ICAO rules state that a Class One aircrew medical is valid for 6 months for an ATPL holder over the age of 40. Australia has for sometime opted out of that (in fact I think Australia is not a full ICAO compliant country) and has a 12 month validity on medicals. Most countries are 6 monthly and those countries are pushing ICAO to pull Australia into line. Good on Australia for not giving in, if they think 12 months is ok, they should be allowed to do it that way, in my opinion. They have however said for international operations, a medical has to have been completed within the last 6 months.

Wish mine was every twelve months - two a year at £170 a go.Must be crazy to stay freelance !

In US every 6 months if you are PIC, every 12 months if SIC, $40 each.

[This message has been edited by LittleBubba (edited 09 January 2001).]