UK PPL Medical

[Sam-MAN]

Hey guys.

I know this may seem abit of a 'daft' question, but what does a PPL medical actually involve?

I was chatting to someone today, and they said it involves 'stripping off':confused: He might of been having me on, im not sure :eek:

Anyone who could clear this up for me, it would be appreciated :)

thanks

[Bahn-Jeaux]

Down to your underwear, not starkers.

[Shunter]

Eyes, ears, ECG, blood pressure, piss-in-a-bottle, nothing for the average healthy person to worry about. If they do the job right they're going to need access to your groin to check for hernias, but they're doctors... they've seen it all before.

[effortless]

My AME checked my BP after he failed me as well. "See, you can't task increased stress!" Well how we laughed.

[Sam-MAN]

Thanks for the replys:)

One more thing, you dont need to take the medical until your ready to go solo, do you?

Also, i remember my mum telling me once i have some sort of thing where there is a 'hole' in my heart, every so often my heart misses a beat. Nothing that effects me, i wouldnt of known unless she told me, but would that effect me passing the medical?

Cheers

[Bob the Doc]

Potentially.

Occasional missed beats may be normal or innocuous. A hole in the heart is not necessarily an issue but further tests will be required. This is likely to involve referral to a heart specialist doctor (cardiologist) who will almost certainly need an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) and a 24 hour ECG monitor (worn a bit like an old walkman) to establish exactly what these conditions are and how they affect your eligibility for solo flying. Best get these looked at sooner rather than later as it can take a long time for the appointment and then the tests.

Sorry to put a downer on your flying career but I would be astounded if anyone issued you a licence for solo flying with the history you describe without some sort of further investigation.

[Sam-MAN]

Hey

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I know she said it was like that when i was first born, but i have never been told anything since from doctors or anything. Im 90% sure its no longer a problem. However, i will try and get it looked at ASAP, no point in spending all that money if i cant fly ;)

Cheers

[Sam-MAN]

Oh, just 1 more thing. Im going to speak to my mum tomorrow, and ask her if she knows about any 'medical' problems i have. If i went to the doctors, would they be able to show me my medical records or not?

Cheers

[Whirlybird]

Sam-MAN,
One of my students had something that needed further investigation. He was told by his AME that there was unlikely to be any problem at all, but that he would need a consultant's report and a decision from the CAA. It took FIVE MONTHS! He was ready to go solo, and was going stir crazy by the time he actually got his medical. He was super-fit apart from this non-existent condition, had had no idea anything was wrong, so had felt there was no rush to get his medical.

Do yourself a favour and book your medical ASAP!!!!

[Sam-MAN]

Thanks for the advice. Dont think i need to get it just yet, seeing that i am still unsure to when i am starting my PPL.


Thanks

[Bob the Doc]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I know she said it was like that when i was first born, but i have never been told anything since from doctors or anything. Im 90% sure its no longer a problem. However, i will try and get it looked at ASAP, no point in spending all that money if i cant fly

There are a variety of cardiac abnormalities that are present at birth but resolve during childhood. They are often remnants of the circulation that kept you going in the womb (the plumbing changes a lot at birth).

It is still worth getting these checked out. If they are still present, there is often something that can be done for them (even if you have no symptoms) and then you can go solo. If nothing else, it gets the tests done so that when you apply for life insurance you already have the info because if you mention this on the insurance form they will refuse cover until it is investigated.

Good luck, let us know how you get on

[Sam-MAN]

Hey Bob!

You've just triggerd my memory! I remember my mum mentioning i had it at birth, and im sure she said i would just grow out of it.

Thanks :cool:

[Sam-MAN]

Well...

I was speaking to my mum today, and she said i have got a tiny tiny hole in my heart. She is certain that it isnt on my medical records tho. Apparantly, the nurse found it when i was first born and said is i grow, it will either dissapear or grow bigger... I doubt its grown bigger as i have never had any troulbe. I am thinking that i will be best off going to my doctors and asking him, possibly getting a scan on it, would that be a good idea?

Many thanks

[Saab Dastard]

Sam-Man,

The process will probably run something like this - you arrange for your class 2 medical test, the ECG will be done as a matter of course. If there is nothing found in the ECG and no other indications to the AME that there is anything amiss, he / she should simply issue the cert.

If, on the other hand, there is anything unusual with the ECG - and by unusual I DON'T mean dangerous! - the AME will not be able to issue the cert. without further investigation. He may be able to recommend a consultant for further investigation, or your GP could do so.

In my own case (which is how I know!), I had a heart "scare" the year before I started flying, resulting in 5 days observation and tests in hospital. Numerous ECGs showed abnormal patterns, so I had a "stress test" ECG, the results of which were viewed by a cardiologist. His name (really) was Dr. Beatt.

Anyhow, he told me that I was fine, but had an unusual (inverted) t-wave or something - rare, but perfectly OK. I am more likely to win the lottery than have a heart attack, he said. So when I win the lottery and can really afford to fly I will drop dead :uhoh:. I digress.

But I still had to get a letter from him to the CAA confirming all this, because of course the ECG at the time I took my initial class 2 was "abnormal"! It took several months (3 I think) to convince the CAA, but eventually they accepted his report.

It was the same when I went for my renewal, but the AME who did the renewal said that now that he had the ECG "on file", he would be able to compare future ECGs with this, and as long as there was no significant change, he could re-issue the medical.

Of course it is a good way to keep my repeat business, but as his fees were quite reasonable and being a very nice chap (a pilot), that isn't a problem!

SD

[kiwi chick]

Sam-Man,

I would strongly advise you take the above advice and get a medical now. Even if you don't plan to start flying for a while imagine this scenario:

You save up your dollars, or apply for a scholorship [i don't know how it works in the UK sorry], dream about flying, tell people you are going to fly, plan your life around flying, pick out the white shirt you will wear for your first day as an airline pilot...

...then you go for your medical and find out that you can't fly?! :=

I think the money spent now will be well worth avoiding the possible heartbreak further down the track. :(

Just my advice :ok:

[Sam-MAN]

Hi

Thanks for the replys.

Would i be able to get a scan if i went to the doctors and forwarded me to the hospital for a scan?

I really, REALLY hope that it wont effect me flying in any way. I know it has never effected me growing up (infact, i didnt even know i had it :suspect:) until my mum told me. How 'easy' is it to pass the medical if you have a minor heart problem? (which mine is, im pretty sure its a common problem and i might of grown out of it!)

Would just like your advice before i get my hopes up.

Thanks :ok:

[Sam-MAN]

Sorry to post again but...

I had a quick google to see what it is excatly and found this (http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/teens/health/conditions/h/hole-in-the-heart.html). Reading it, it sounds excatly the same as what i have. Discoverd when first born, like me. The nurse said i had a TINY hole which may close up on its own, and reading through that it proberly has! According to that there isnt any real health implications. The only one being 'shortness of breath' which i dont have.

What do you guys think?

Many thanks once again

[Saab Dastard]

Sam-MAN,

No 2 ways about it - just do the class 2 medical. Either it will be fine or it won't.

If fine, end of story.

If not, proceed with further investigation.

Don't go faffing about over vague possibilities.

SD

[Sam-MAN]

Thanks.

Can i do the Class 2 medical locally? or do i have to go down to Gatwick? 1 more thing, how much is it? £190?


Many thanks

[kiwi chick]

I second what Saab Dastard said... :ok:

[Whirlybird]

And I agree. :ok:

Now listen carefully, Sam-MAN...

No-one except the CAA wll be able to tell you if you can fly or not. The chances are that you can. But if you have ANY kind of abnormality, however small, the AME won't be able to issue the medical on the spot; it will have to go to the CAA. And then it could take several months before you get your medical.

So stop messing about and telling us that you don't really have anything wrong. Stop thinking about who else you can see, or what other tests you can have done. Phone your nearest flying school, or check on the CAA website, and find the name and address of your closest AME. Then pick up the phone and book a Class 2 medical. I don't know the cost for you young 'uns, but you can ask, and it will definitely be under £200. Don't say a word about this past history unless asked; you're just getting your medical to make sure you can before you start learning to fly.

OK? Got it? And that, young man, is an order!!!!!

[Sam-MAN]

Hey!

I will do ASAP. Wouldnt it be more reasonable getting a class 1 medical so i am positive that i can be a pilot, or would it just be a waste of money if its going to run out in a few years?

Many thanks!

*rings up CAA*

[Saab Dastard]

Wouldnt it be more reasonable getting a class 1 medical

NO!!

It costs a hell of a lot more, for a start.

Once you have the class 2, then start to think about class 1.

Do not post again until you can tell us you have got your cert! :)

SD

[Hawk]

Thanks for your thread Sam, please continue posting about your progress.

[gingernut]

It's probably worth having a chat with your AME in the near future- the lot in the North West appear friendly enough.

I guess in the back of your mind, your wondering how your childhood problems will affect your medical. Reading between the lines, taking into consideration that you are, and have been free of symptoms since this was detected, it's likely that the end result will be the granting of a medical certificate. (Although I'm making a few rather large assumptions here.)

As, has been stated, the quack is likely to want to investigate things further- it's unlikely that your GP will be willing to arrange these on the NHS.

You do have a right to view your records, but you can't just turn up and view them, I suggest you talk to the person who deals with records at your GP's. You may be a little surprised as to what's not included.

(But don't tell any porky pies to your AME.)

PS, it looks like your enthusiasm is starting to p*ss people off, don't take it personally, try and keep your questions concise and avoid the forums specifically for pilots......and remember how this feels when your a Captain:)

[slim_slag]

Sam,

How old are you? What sort of exercise do you do? How far can you run before you get knackered?

[gingernut]

Younger than most, more than most, and further than most.

(Three more reasons to p*ss people off:))

[Whirlybird]

it looks like your enthusiasm is starting to p*ss people off, don't take it personally

gingernut, it's not that we're getting pissed off, or I'm not anyway. Sam, if it comes over that way, my apologies.

It's just that we seemed to be going round in circles. Sam may or may not have childhood health problems that may or may not delay or prevent him getting a medical. It was obvious to several of us that the the ONLY way to find out was to go for a medical, and ASAP as it might be a long process. Sam appeared to be thinking of all the reasons not to do this, or to do something else. Now, while that's quite understandable as he's scared he might not get a medical, in the long run he has to bite the bullet and find out. We could all see that it was a time for action, not for more words. Perhaps we did put it rather strongly...but it seemed necessary. It was well meant - really, Sam.

But do keep posting; we in no way meant to put you off!

[Saab Dastard]

Perhaps we did put it rather strongly...but it seemed necessary. It was well meant - really, Sam

Thanks Whirly, spot on.

Sam, I apologise if I seemed harsh or rude, but... NIKE!! (just do it)

SD

[Sam-MAN]

Sam,

How old are you? What sort of exercise do you do? How far can you run before you get knackered?


I can go just as long as any other kid, used to be on the school cross country team.




it looks like your enthusiasm is starting to p*ss people off,


I will keep my posts to a minimum from now on:O

[Ozzymick]

I can't stress how important getting you medical is before you spend money on flying. I invested in my flight over to NZ and spent 20hrs on my flying and it was nearly all for nothing due to problems with my medical.

Luckily all is good now but it could have been an expensive disaster.

Good luck

[Paris Dakar]

I agree with Ozzymick.

When I learned to fly, a guy stopping in one of the flying school's villas failed his medical. Not quite as far as NZ, but believe me, sitting in a villa in Florida with 6 other blokes (all flying) listening to their joyous tales must have been a complete p1sser for him.

If you want to do your PPL get your appointment booked with your AME. When you're there, ask the AME if there is anything that he/she would think might stop you obtaining a Class I medical - yes I know that the CAA must examine you but there's no harm in asking the question.

[rsuggitt]

I think what I would just add is to go see the GP first, to get more background and details on the hole-in-the heart situation.

FYI, everyone had a hole in the heart when still in the womb, but it should close up before or some time after birth.

[Hawk]

Think we might have exhausted this topic Sam. Without continuing to keep going over old ground, you probably have all the information you need now. Best of luck if you decide to go ahead with the medical.
Thankyou
Medical Mods.