Border Line cases

[Pilot16]

Hello ...

If you got your Class 1 with some leeway on your vision, Id like to hear from you!

What sort of/how much leeway have the CAA shown when it comes to vision? I would LOVE to hear some borderline stories here.

Hope I get a some response.

Awrite thanks :ok:

[-<M4v3r1ck>-]

Haven't been for the class I yet but have discussed my vision at length with the CAA. My shortsightedness is neglible (0.25 R and 0.5L with CAA limits being 5.0) but my astigmartism is about 2.75 in each eye (limit is 2.00).

I've been told I can go for a class I and assuming I'm OK with everything else and the only issue is that slightly higher astigmatism then I'll get a class II. If I get a PPL I can then be treated as renewing my "class I" and will get a Class I (Deviation) upon starting commercial training. Eventually, once I qualify, the deviation will be lifted and I'll have a normal Class I. Bit long-winded and not ideal but there you go... :bored:

Mav

[QQ Tester]

Hi,

I went to Gatwick a few weeks back for my class one initial. My main concern was my eye sight as my right eye is -5.25 (the left is just in limit at -4.75). This is compounded by astigmatism in the right eye but not too badly, I think its only 0.25. The chap who did my eyes at Gatwick was remarkably laid back about the whole thing and just said “I think you’ll be ok with your eyes” and that was that. I’d asked to do the eye test first so if it was bad news I could skip the rest. In the end they got me on my blood pressure (see my thread: ‘Anxiety = High BP = Fail = More anxiety – anyway out of the loop?’ for detail) but my eyes were ok and with some luck my BP will be proven fine too in due course.

One thing about the whole event; don’t worry about it. Everyone there’s great, the setting is comfortable and infinitely better that anything you would ever experience in the NHS.

Good Luck,

QQ

[Flyin'Dutch']

the setting is comfortable and infinitely better that anything you would ever experience in the NHS.

Of course but then we don't charge £400 + for the privilege and in general practice have to see everyone who desires so within 24 hours.

FD

[QQ Tester]

Hello ‘Dutch’,

I knew someone would respond to that remark! Before my C1 initial I had an image in my minds eye of what the place would be like based on my experiences of heath care in the UK. All I’m saying, for anyone who’s not been to the aero-medical center at Gatwick before, is that it’s rather plush and nicer than any NHS establishment I’ve ever visited. It just goes to show what proper funding will buy you – although with respect to the NHS I’d rather see improvement on the clinical side over large sofas in every GP’s waiting room!

Regards, QQ

[mazzy1026]

I am starting to think that if you scrape through on something (in QQ's case he passed the vision test) then they will nail you for something else - i.e. the BP?

This is just a thought guys - not my opinion as I havent even been for the medical yet but I think it's food for thought.

Regards

Maz

[-<M4v3r1ck>-]

On the contrary, from my own experience in dealing with the CAA and the comments of otheres, I'd say that, in general, they seem to do all they can to help you out. If they were really so hardline there would be no possibility of anyone being issued a class I who didn't meet every initial requirement (as you'd expect) but this doesn't seem to be the case..if the deviation is small and judged to be fairly inconsequential (and unlikely to deterioate) then it appears that the CAA are about as helpful and supportive as you could wish for from an organisation who has the daunting task off publicly signing off on a pilot's fitness to fly.

If you're eyes are juuuuuuuust outside of initial but within renewal (as are many pilots who fly obviously) then that is surely less of an issue than a high BP (more risks and potential for serious consequences - you're not going to endanger the aircraft/passengers if you can't read the samllest letters on the chart in reality but if you've got a high BP and are in a stressful situation you could pose a danger. Now I know that BPs vary throughout the day and from situatio to situation so I fully understand that people would want to debate this, all I'm saying is in response to mazzy's comments - I think the CAA are pretty decent towards wannabes :O

Mav :ok:

[Dave Gittins]

I am happy to support what Mav says. Mt experiences with the CAA Aeromedical Centre are very much that they want to get you flying and keep you flying.

Am going for my Class II renewal next Wednesday, so hope I am still saying the same on Wednesday afternoon.

DG

[QQ Tester]

Hi again,

In response to Maz I would like to say that the aero-medical people are super professional and I doubt that they plan to trip you up if something is not quite what it should be.

The testing process at Gatwick is modular. Each function to be examined is separate; the medical can therefore be described at a series of smaller examinations. It is likely that each examination will be with a different doctor/nurse in a different part of the centre. My eyes, for example, were examined by a different chap than by BP. If you pass each ‘module’ you get the certificate, if you don’t you may have to go for further tests or see a specialist etc.

For completeness I’ll quickly list the order that I followed (this will be different for each person):

1) Eyes (with Doctor) 15mins
2) Blood sample (pin prick only) for cholesterol and hemoglobin also urine sample checked (with nurse) 5-10mins
3) EEG (with nurse) 45mins
4) Lung function, hearing and ECG (with nurse) 20mins
5) Physical examination (including BP) and chest x-ray (with doctor) 10-15mins

As you can guess there is a lot of waiting around with only old Flight International mags and few papers to read so take a book.

Regards, QQ

[Jason2000]

The situation...

I have a Class 2 medical for my PPL (held since 2000), dearly want to become a commercial pilot, yet had the impression that I would never be given a Class 1 medical on the grounds that my eyesight is outside the -5 limits. My vision, when adding on the astigmatism, is around -5.75, which is still within the 'renewal' limit for a class 1 medical (the CAA says this is -8).

The Question...

So, the impression that I got from reading one of the above posts is that once you have a Class 2 medical, you can 'convert' this to a Class 1 and then just have to meet the Class 1 renewal requirements? Is this true? If it is, then I'll be down the CAA @ LGW straight away!

Cheers,

Jason

[Flyin'Dutch']

That is not a law set in stone (AFAIK) but seems to be the way the cookie crumbles.

The problem P16 has is that he can not meet the requirements despite a correction.

I think that is more of a hurdle than whether you are half a diopter out here or there.

FD

[-<M4v3r1ck>-]

Jason2000,

I think you're referring to my post. I get the impression that the CAA treat each case relatively uniquely though I imagine some kind of framework exists for cases like ours. Send all your info in and speak to someone over the phone - they're very to the point and helpful.

Mav :ok: