First CLASS MEDICAL QUSTIONS

[Hamil000]

anyone no how much the CAA is charging for a first Class MEDICAL, i heard is the first step in wanting to fly a jet plane

THANK U

[Whirlygig]

Did mine a year ago, about £370 then. The initial one has to be done at Gatwick; thereafter at a local AME authorised to issue Class 1s. These will be about £100.

However, when you book your medical (and the details are all on the CAA website), they offer you a morning or afternoon. One thing to be aware of (which they didn't tell me) is that there is a possibility you MAY need a particular type of eye test which would mean that your vision will be affected and that you shouldn't drive afterwards. So make sure you have an escape route planned if you do have this test and are affected.

Cheers

Whirls

[Hamil000]

what type of eye test do they use on you, does it blind you and does it affect u permarnatly,
can you give me the contact of the caa and the Medical centre at gatwick.
and finally so iam looking to spend around 400£ on my first class medical right

[skelly2005]

Hi, i rang up the caa the other day to book my 1st class medical and the lady told me that she needed a payment of £302 which she claimed was the full cost. Where are u gunna be doing your training etc???

[Whirlygig]

NO of course the eye test doesn't permanently blind you!! If it did, we'd have no pilots!

I don't know what that particular test involved as, in the end, they decided I didn't need it but some people do. They recommend that you can arrange to be driven there or picked up if you do need it doing. The problem is, is that you book the date (which you cannot change without losing money) and THEN tell you, you may need someone to drive you.

If you want their contacts, then go to the CAA website and then the safety section - I'm not doing it for you!

Cheers

Whirls

[Hamil000]

i would maybe wanna do my training in australia or spain, but not england, i wanna see another country

i just check on the caa website
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_Med_Aeromedical_Centre_Fees_Jan-2006.pdf

if they charge that much, then why are people getting there First class medical for inly 370£

[Whirlygig]

Because not all the tests are required; it depends on your age and the results of other tests as to whether you need more.

Give them a ring in the morning; they'll answer all your questions.

Cheers

Whirls

[Hamil000]

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND ADVICE

[mad_jock]

There is a test where they push a probe onto your eye to measure the pressure inside( glacoma ???) . Before that they put a few drops of local into it.

You can't see jack **** due to your eye watering like a goodun for about 30-60mins afterwards. And you have to be really carefull you don't rub your eye because you won't feel any damage your doing. And I really wouldn't suggest you do anything to do with avoiding action including walking into bollards for at least 2-3 hours afterwards. I got the test because the old RAF coffin dodger bloke that was covering didn't know how to use the puffer and the old fart did both eyes even though the first was well within limits. I have since had the puffer thing and it isn't in the same league as the poke you in the eye with a steel pin contraption.

But..... They normaly use the pulse of air onto your eye instead which is marginally less traumatic but still not very pleasant. It doesn't have the after effects.

I might add the ladies and gents of the Medical Deptment are completely different to the rest of that building. They are very helpful, very understanding and very friendly. It is not a place to be scared of, if they can find a way for you to meet the required standard they will pass you. I have heard of people with white coat allergy being sat with a mag for an hour with an automatic BP machine on their arm in a waiting room due to high BP with a doctor taking it.


MJ

[Whirlygig]

But..... They normaly use the pulse of air onto your eye instead which is marginally less traumatic but still not very pleasant. It doesn't have the after effects.
What do mean, no after effects? The first time I had the "puff-of-air" test, I fell off the stool!

Cheers

Whirls

[Leezyjet]

What do mean, no after effects? The first time I had the "puff-of-air" test, I fell off the stool!

My head shot back so fast I pulled a muscle in my neck !!. It would have been nice had the guy actually explained what it would feel like, rather than saying "now we will just puff a bit of air into your eye". :mad: It was more like shoving the high pressure air line for your car tyres into your eye.

One thing I have wondered though, do you ladies get the equivalent of the "and now if your could drop your trousers and underwear Mr. Leezyjet" :O :E

I wrote a report on here the day after I had mine about what they do to you - try running a search on Class One medical and see if it comes up.

:)

[Leezyjet]

For those after class 1 info :-

I had my class one the day before the flyer show so I am pretty well placed to tell you what they do.

It's pretty straight forward and not much to worry about.

You arrive at the CAA building and get issued with ID pass then report to Medical Section just inside the main entrance.

They then direct you into a cubical and you strip off above waist level and put on a white dressing gown then sit and wait in the waiting area.

You then get called and get your height and weight checked and they put a little cup through a hole in a wall into the toilets. You then enter the toliet and produce your urine sample and place it back in the hole in the wall - I went first so there was no other urine cups there, but all the guys who went after said that the part filled cups were still in the wall even when the last chap went in (6 of us). One guy mentioned to them that this wasn't a very secure way of doing it as the samples could be tampered with, but they said they are only checking for sugar levels and glucose and not for drugs so it wasn't a major concern to them.

You then return to the waiting area. They then begin calling out names, and each person goes off to have a different part of the remaining tests done so they can get you all done quickly, and you rotate around between each test.

I had my eyesight test first. It was only slightly different from a standard opticians eye test. They have you reading lines from a chart with each eye then both eyes, looking at a red line and telling them where the other red line crosses it (which I couldn't grasp at first as I was looking at the wrong lines oops!!!). You then look at the books for colour blindness, then he checks the back of your eyes. You then sit at a machine that blows a puff of air into your eye - this is quite strange as you reaction is to pull back but you have to try not to - this is the worst test they do.

After the eye test is over it's back to the waiting area.

Next I was called to do the hearing test. You sit in a sound proofed booth and they play different frequencies into the headphones and you indicate that you can hear them.

After this was a blood test. They prick your finger and take a couple of drops of blood and test them for cholesterol etc. (My cholesterol had been at 6+ 2 weeks before but I had been drinking those Flora pro-active things and drastically reduced my saturated fat intake during those 2 weeks and I was suprised to see it was down to 4 which is a normal level).

I then went to another room where they hook you upto a machine that checks your heart rate at rest, and then you do a lung capacity test which you get a couple of chances at. Basically fill your lungs up with as much air as you possibly can then blow it all out at a constant rate for as long as you possibly can. Then you repeat the test but this time you have to blow out as much air as possible as fast as possible. There is a bit of a knack to this that's why you get a couple of attempts.

Was then back to the waiting area.

The other guys had chest x-rays but I didn't require this as I already had one from my Class 2 in South Africa back in March so I got the cost of that and the attached report refunded. They are just checking though that all your internal organs are the right size and you have the right number of each and they are in the right places.

I was the last to go see the Doctor - the other guys had been discussing what SHE did to them, and when I was called I walked off giggling like a school kid, whilst the others were winking and laughing.

You go into a room and strip off to your underwear and lie on a bed. She takes your blood pressure and checks your breathing with a stethascope, then prods around at your abdomen. Then she poilitely asks you to pull down your underwear whilst she puts on a rubber glove. She then gives your nuts a quick feel, then you pull your underwear back up and stand up. She then checks your range of movement of your back, neck and arms. You then have a general chat about your medical history etc. then sign the forms they sent you.

If you take medication, take it with you so they can see check out whether it would be a problem, as most people don't tend to take it and have to get it checked out later via the CAA website.

One guy turned up in a full suit and shirt and tie. This is not necessary - it's not an interview after all and YOU are paying THEM. I just wore my jeans and a pair of trainers, and a sweatshirt - basically smart casual.

I would suggest wearing shoes that you can run in as the guy in the suit had to run around the car park for 10 minutes as he had trouble with the lung test, and you might also have to run for the heart rate test too.

They will tell you whether you have passed or not on the day, so no need to sit around at home worrying. the certificate should take 7-10 days to come through.

This link explaines what they are looking for generally :-
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_Med...ass1_Medex.pdf

This link is for the visual requirements :-
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...isual_Stds.pdf

They are a very nice bunch of people and really make you feel at ease. It really is nothing to worry about."

Here is the said report.

:ok:

[DANNY M]

Initial first class medical is now £302


This may go up if the doc thinks that you need a chest x-ray etc...

[BEagle]

"I just wore my jeans and a pair of trainers, and a sweatshirt - basically smart casual."

Smart casual?

Currently, despite job applicants having all their qualifications - some even have type ratings - airline recruiters reckon that around 50% of fATPL holders are unemployable. Why? It's because they are simply not the sort of people the airlines wish to have sitting in their cockpits. Many don't even get as far as being called forward for interview, because their applications are almost unintelligible....... Writing in lazy yoof-speak 'txt msg' slanguage rather than proper English is a habit which anyone aspiring to an airline career should break as soon as possible.

"anyone no how much the CAA is charging for a first Class MEDICAL, i heard is the first step in wanting to fly a jet plane

THANK U"

If that is an example of your normal standards of English grammar and spelling, I would suggest that you take some remedial English lessons. Not every airline accepts applications on-line or typed on a PC... Pen and paper will feature at some stage.


The only way to have reasonable assurance that the airlines would really want you is to consider some form of aptitude assessment before parting with all that money. Although even that is no guarantee.

[Whirlygig]

One thing I have wondered though, do you ladies get the equivalent of the "and now if your could drop your trousers and underwear Mr. Leezyjet" :O :E
Yes, we have our breasts examined for lumps etc.

I did have the chest x-ray (but I'm an old fart) and they told me I had passed subject to its results. So you may not know there and then but they were very quick in issuing the certificate.

Cheers

Whirls


PS - Hamil000, is English your first language? If so, then I'm inclined to agrees with BEags

[Happy Wanderer]

I'm early 40's, did my Class 1 last month down at Gatwick, paid £302 for the privilege, and was told by the Doctor (after I'd asked) that I'd passed ok. If you don't ask, you don't get. . . . .

Certificate turned up at home about 3 days later.

HW

[waterpau]

Certificate turned up at home about 3 days later.[

That's an amazing turn around time. Do the CAA not wait for your medical records from your GP before issuing the certificate? One assumes that retrieving the medical report would take longer than three days...

waterpau

[Whirlygig]

What medical records from your GP?

Cheers

Whirls

[waterpau]

I simply assumed that the CAA would make some kind of check with your GP on medical history. I could be wrong - anybody know any different?

Don't assume, check :ugh:

waterpau

[Whirlygig]

They can as you sign a form permitting it but they don't need to unless they feel there's a reason. I don't believe they contact your GP as a matter of course.

Cheers

Whirls

[Hamil000]

Whirlygig (http://www.pprune.org/forums/member.php?u=65159) vbmenu_register("postmenu_2657745", true);

Yeah English is my third 3rd language

1st LUGANDA
2nd ARABIC
3rd ENGLISH

[mad_jock]

I have had both tests the pin and the puffer. The pin twice due to me falling off my bike pissed in Glen Esk and my mum going mental and making me go to hospital and the RAF bloke.

You have to sit here with your face rammed into what looks like a medival torture device. Where apon they squirts the solution, which stings like hell and you instantly can't see anything due to the amount of stuff coming out your eye. Then they proceed to move the probe in and very slowly push a bunt probe into the front of your eye. This takes about a minute, it feels like 30mins. You have to keep your eye open and your head bang up against the head rest or they will have to do it again. You can imagne how hard it is to keep your eye open when someone is slowly shoving what looks like a bic pen into your eye.

It doesn't hurt its just very very uncomfy and you really can't drive afterwards.

Thankfully after mine I was escorted to a dark room by a very attractive (well she was before the test) Irish nurse to look at flashy lights for the next hour, which involved lots of blinking which was just what I needed.

[Happy Wanderer]

Yep, 3 days was the turnaround time, and as far as I'm aware my GP wasn't involved. Was informed at the Class 1 that I had a very high cholesterol level which came like a bolt out the blue. Doesn't seem to affect the flying tho :D

I personally didn't find the Class 1 anywhere near the ordeal I thought it would be - in fact I really quite enjoyed it. Felt a bit like being on a conveyor belt at times, but very professional nonetheless.

I probably did wonder how intrusive' the medical was going to be, but no worries at all. If anyone (male) is going down to Gatwick thinking they'll be on the receiving end of the rubber glove treatment . . . . you won't be.

HW

[femaleWannabe]

[quote=Whirlygig]Yes, we have our breasts examined for lumps etc./quote]

Phew is that all?! I was thinking they'd be using the rubber glove "elsewhere" :\

Do ladies get to keep all underwear intact or is it strip to the waist for us too?

[VFR-Seek and Destroy]

Leezyjet - Then she poilitely asks you to pull down your underwear

I think i'll be asking for a refund. The doctor never said that to me. :(

[Whirlygig]

For the ladies amongst us :-

Yes, strip to the waist with no bra, pants remain on throughout! However, ladies get a big. baggy T-shirt to wear and THEN the white, fluffy dressing gown which is made for a loosehead prop!

Apparently, many women complained that they felt a little under-dressed when walking around the medical centre with JUST the dressing gown and blokes also walking around.

However, I found the building so hot that when one nurse told me that that was the only reason for T-Shirt AND dressing gown - off came the dressing gown! Trousers were still on! OK, so I walked around in a baggy T-shirt and no bra - after all I doubt very much whether I would see any of the other guys again and even if I did, they wouldn't recognise me with my clothes on!

When the doctor does the breast examination, there will be a female nurse present and bless, my chap was very discreet.

Cheers

Whirls

[Leezyjet]

"I just wore my jeans and a pair of trainers, and a sweatshirt - basically smart casual."
Smart casual?
Currently, despite job applicants having all their qualifications - some even have type ratings - airline recruiters reckon that around 50% of fATPL holders are unemployable. Why? It's because they are simply not the sort of people the airlines wish to have sitting in their cockpits.

BEagle,


What has that got to do with wearing jeans and trainers to a medical ?. The clothes I wore to the medical were smart, but as I said casual. I wasn't going for an interview so did not feel the need to dress up in the whistle.

I already said in the post that it is advisable to wear something you can run in - thats what I was told prior to going, so I wore trainers. The one (and only) guy who was fully suited and booted had to go run around the car park for 20 mins on a frosty/icy morning in a suit and a pair of shoes - hardly advisable now is it.

There were people there that were just in there scruffy clothes they would wear around the house. Didn't stop them getting a medical THEY were paying for.

What you wear to the CAA medical centre has absolutely zero influence on whether you can fly an a/c or not. It's the results of the medical itself that counts.

:rolleyes:

[Wazzoo]

I'm not sure what all this stuff about dressing gowns and feeling your nads is.

I went just over a month ago and never had to wear a dressing gown. I was in my own clothes throughout. Had to take my shirt off for the ECG and then for the doctors exam I stripped down to underwear. But even then that didn't come off. He just felt my lower abdomen and asked me to do the cough thing. No feeling anywhere else. As I say, for the rest of it I was in my own clothes.

Not sure what happened with Leezyjet....and I had a bloke do the exam (was the lady just taking advantage? ;))

[Leezyjet]

Not sure what happened with Leezyjet....and I had a bloke do the exam (was the lady just taking advantage? )

Yep we all got the full on nad feelage from the woman.

One other thing I noticed, the windows were not blacked out either and the room was on the ground floor. The blinds were also tilted away from the window, in towards the room meaning anyone outside could look in rather than being tilted the other way around towards the glass so you can see out but people cannot see in. :eek:

:\

[Hawk]

This thread is not about grammar or spelling. English is not necessarily the first language of many members of PPRuNe. We will not tolerate arrogant personal attacks directed at those who come here with a genuine and legitimate medical issue.
Thank you
H.