Depends on what you mean by "Initial Training".
If you are
not looking for commercial then there may be routes to flying SOLO.
To give 2 instances of where restrictions have been placed on friends:
1) Mechanical heart valve
A number of years ago this experienced glider pilot went for a medical for a PPL. It turned out he had a heart defect and, as a result of the medical, ended up having a valve replaced.
Many years later NPPL introduced. He decides to ask (expecting a "no"). The response: He can fly either:
- SOLO (no-one else in the aeroplane at all)
- In a dual control aeroplane with a licence holder in the other seat
2) Experienced Flying Instructor MIGHT have had a heart attack
Chap experienced tightness of chest - after extensive tests the verdict was "you possibly had a heart attack". If he'd had a heart attack and then a bypass they would have given his (Class 1) medical back - because an identified problem had "been fixed". Since they couldn't say he'd definitely had a heart attack there didn't seem to be any way for him to get fhis medical back.
In the end he had an "
elective triple bypass". Once fit again the powers that be determined:
- When flying not using his CPL privileges: No restrictions
- When using CPL privileges (i.e. paid instruction): Only if student "can navigate back to airfield and land unaided" (i.e. post first land away).
While neither are directly related to your situation they do demonstrate that there is flexibility in the system. You might well be able to fly solo - but it might only be "solo".
Hope this helps
OC619
N.B. Since the glider pilot example the rules have changed - now solo glider pilots have to meet NPPL standards. (Just in case anyone out there thought there might be glider pilots dropping dead at the controls "like flies".