NATS Initial Medical Changes
Having just been to my initial medical for NATS, I thought I'd let people know that the process has changed quite a bit for people starting at the college.
As of April, everyone will end up having 2 medicals, one by NATS and then another by the CAA. You'll either be asked to do the CAA one before you start, or if you're assessed as low enough risk, NATS will bus a load of us up to Gatwick one day and get them all done then.
The reason for the change is that since the CAA is the regulatory body, and because they issue the medical certificates, they have been told that they have to do the initial medical examinations now themselves.
So what happens is you have your full medical at NATS as before, then the doctor goes away and discusses your case with the NATS chief medical guy, who decides whether or not to make you get your CAA medical before starting the course.
Everyone who already has been through the medical before April and has their class 1 certificate is unaffected (goddamnit).
Whether you get a UK CAA Class 1 or a JAR Class 1.. I'm not sure.