Class 1 Medical

[VFR Transit]

Can anyone tell me what my BMI should really be when taking the Class 1 Medical?

VFR

[johnc21]

Calculate your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/)

bang your height and weight in the boxes and it will soon tell you.

Obviously you would like it to be in the normal category...

[Kiev23]

Do they even calculate your BMI at the class one??

[AMEandPPL]

Do they even calculate your BMI at the class one?

Yes, they most certainly do; and we AME's calculate it again at every single renewal thereafter. Just ask those who get letters from the Belgrano when the BMI gets to near or above 38 !

[Kiev23]

ahh ok i just dont remember it being calculated.

thanx AME-PPL

[shgsaint]

They calculate it after they take your weight and height. ;)

[VFR Transit]

Can you fail a Class 1 medical on your BMI alone?

VFR

[AMEandPPL]

I just don't remember it being calculated

Indeed not ; you probably won't see anyone actually write the figures down and carry out a calculation. The CAA's computer does it automatically when any pilot's height and weight are entered . . . . . and

Can you fail a Class 1 medical on your BMI alone?

. . . . . . . yes, you can. The computer (as mentioned above) flags up a warning if the calculated BMI is in excess of a certain figure. Might be 35, or might be 38 - I'm not 100% sure right now.

[gingernut]

Previous posts would suggest that failure on BMI alone is rare-in fact I've never heard of it on this forum.

However, having a BMI of 38 is likely to throw up some nasties in the near future. (Ever seen a really fat 80 year old? Even Cyril Smith is now slimmer)

And yeh yeh, before all you pie eaters protest, I know we shouldn't go off BMI alone.:)

[Aer Doctor]

BMI of 20 to 24.9 taken as normal.
25 to 29.5 as overweight with few more investigations thrown in.
30 and above as obese with all biochemical and thyroid function test to be carried out.
However nobody get unfit for obesity alone . Only the associated illness will make one unfit. So take care and reduce weight but donot get stressed out.

[AMEandPPL]

Not quite correct, I'm afraid. When the original JAR rules were brought out ( I still have my copy from 1999) the relevant paragraph (JAR-FCL 3.175) read as follows :

(e) Applicants with extreme obesity shall be assessed as unfit.

Since then the equivalent paragraph has been somewhat refined, and now it reads :

(e) Applicants with a Body
Mass Index > 35 may be
assessed as fit only if the
excess weight is not likely
to interfere with the safe
exercise of the applicable
licence(s) and a
satisfactory cardiovascular
risk review has been
undertaken

So it can be seen that actually no specific disease or illness needs to be identified before an obese applicant can be refused a Class 1 medical. Private pilots should note that the Class 2 regulations contain the exact same wording !

[gingernut]

biochemical and thyroid function test to be carried out.

Ah yes, wouldn't it be nice to blame a gland?

But as every primary care man realises......



Sat on rse + cruddy diet = fat knacker

Shift one of the variables on the left, to shift the one on the right :)

[JohnRayner]

Eat less do more!? What sort of diet plan is that!? Bizarre....