I’m afraid those who take comfort from the illusion that the CAA medical stops aircraft falling on their heads are misguided. Even the AAIB now admits, after undertaking its own statistical analysis, that there is no difference in pilot incapacitation rates between those types of flying which are exempt from CAA medicals, like gliding, and those where CAA medicals are required.
To quote Dr Peter Saundby, writing in a recent magazine article: “What the AAIB analysis did show was that the rigorous medical examinations applied to military and commercial pilots failed to prevent medical incapacity.”
He goes on to say: “Relatively few diseases are detectable before they become symptomatic and these should be monitored as part of the routine health care provided by the NHS. Even fewer of these diseases present a hazard to aviation.” His point is that certification by a pilot’s GP that he or she is fit to fly, without that doctor needing an expensive and coveted CAA license to make such a certification, would be infinitely better than the present bureaucratic nonsense, with its “political” blood tests and pointless groping.
As to Barbox, the chap who posted earlier about his medical having picked up a condition which if left unattended would have killed him, good for you, mate. But this organ of State is not there to force you to go to the doctor. One of these postings justifies the current system by saying: "It's kinda reassuring just before your 40th birthday to have the doctor rip off the ECG and say yup, that looks okay." So go to the doctor before you're 40, then. Take more responsibility for your own health, and save the rest of us some tens of millions of pounds, please.
PS: To the other chap - my light aircraft weighs less than a Mini and if it hit your house it would bounce off the roof. My HGV loads to 40 tonnes, and that would be a wholly different matter.