Pat42
9th Nov 2009, 14:49
Hi everyone,
Just had a quick question I was wondering if anyone had any experience of...
I've just sat stage 3 of NATS ATCO selection and am waiting to hear the result. If I'm through the next stage will be medicals, of which there is a NATS company medical and then a European class 3 administered by the CAA.
I have two medical conditions which I've been worrying may present a small hurdle. Both are to do with headaches. From NATS website all I can find is a document which states:
Neurological Requirements
An applicant shall have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any neurological condition which is likely to interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of the applicable licence(s) / certificate(s) of competence.
The following conditions are disqualifying:
(1) progressive disease of the nervous system.
(2) epilepsy.
(3) conditions with a high propensity for cerebral dysfunction.
The first condition is a chronic headache. I've had it for over 7 years with no significant change in symptoms. Intensity can vary over the course of several days but it is generally very predictable and I have become very effective at managing it and it has no effect on my ability to conduct day to day tasks. I am not particularly worried about this condition.
The second condition I have recently been diagnosed with is migraine. I am awaiting an MRI just to confirm it is nothing more sinister. The symptoms are extremely mild: the pain is almost completely masked by the above mentioned condition and whilst it is an annoyance it has little effect on my ability to conduct day to day tasks. In addition to this I often experience some very mild nuerological symptoms including a numbing sensation around the mouth which can occassionally extend elsewhere (sometimes the tongue, sometimes my fingers). Again, this is a mild annoyance but does not prohibit my performance of day to day tasks or restrict or limit me in any other way. I typically experience symptoms every few days, but am able to just ignore them and go about my normal life without incident.
My question is, does anyone know if such a migraine might be a problem or has anyone had experience of the NATS or CAA medicals for ATCOs who suffers from this or a similar condition? I would hardly describe either of my conditions as having a "high propensity for cerebral dysfunction", but will the medical assessors see things in the same way?
Just had a quick question I was wondering if anyone had any experience of...
I've just sat stage 3 of NATS ATCO selection and am waiting to hear the result. If I'm through the next stage will be medicals, of which there is a NATS company medical and then a European class 3 administered by the CAA.
I have two medical conditions which I've been worrying may present a small hurdle. Both are to do with headaches. From NATS website all I can find is a document which states:
Neurological Requirements
An applicant shall have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any neurological condition which is likely to interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of the applicable licence(s) / certificate(s) of competence.
The following conditions are disqualifying:
(1) progressive disease of the nervous system.
(2) epilepsy.
(3) conditions with a high propensity for cerebral dysfunction.
The first condition is a chronic headache. I've had it for over 7 years with no significant change in symptoms. Intensity can vary over the course of several days but it is generally very predictable and I have become very effective at managing it and it has no effect on my ability to conduct day to day tasks. I am not particularly worried about this condition.
The second condition I have recently been diagnosed with is migraine. I am awaiting an MRI just to confirm it is nothing more sinister. The symptoms are extremely mild: the pain is almost completely masked by the above mentioned condition and whilst it is an annoyance it has little effect on my ability to conduct day to day tasks. In addition to this I often experience some very mild nuerological symptoms including a numbing sensation around the mouth which can occassionally extend elsewhere (sometimes the tongue, sometimes my fingers). Again, this is a mild annoyance but does not prohibit my performance of day to day tasks or restrict or limit me in any other way. I typically experience symptoms every few days, but am able to just ignore them and go about my normal life without incident.
My question is, does anyone know if such a migraine might be a problem or has anyone had experience of the NATS or CAA medicals for ATCOs who suffers from this or a similar condition? I would hardly describe either of my conditions as having a "high propensity for cerebral dysfunction", but will the medical assessors see things in the same way?