HIV and the class 1
Well, as promised, here it is...
Further to my previous post, I had the neuropsychiatric assessment where the main priority was to determine if there had been any cognitive impairment due to the HIV virus or medication. As it happens, mild impairment was found in my visual memory but certainly nothing of concern. This was likely to have been caused in the early untreated stages of infection and it is permanent damage. The good news is it won't progress.
Following this all of the results from 12 months of blood testing, specialist advice and the neuro-psych assessment were sent to the CAA and I'm pleased to say, they have now assessed me medically fit for a class 1 with a single pilot no passenger restriction and a class 2 with no restrictions.
So, for those out there wondering if their HIV status spells an end to their career as a commercial pilot, think again. Go through the process and persevere because the wait is worth it. The CAA here are notoriously difficult when you present them with even the slightest of medical complications, but I have passed which is testament to the fact that an HIV positive status need not get in your way!