Canadian medical requirements class 1

[flying free.LEVC]

Hello, I am a spanish guy who is going to star ppl in few months. I got the class 1 medical exam some years ago, ( european) I mean JAA.

At at time, maybe in a year I would like to go to Canada to follow my studies as a pilot, (CPL, ME...)

What are the medical requirements for passing the class 1 THE FIRST TIME??

I got my european class 1 and they allow me until 8 dioptries, but just 3 the first time you do the exam, I have -1, 5 and -2,25 dioptries in each eye but they are still growing since I am still 20 years old..

Could I have problems with it?? What are the limits for the error refraction in Canada?

Should I pass the INITIAL canadian medical exam before I reach 3 dioptries??

Thanks for all.

[Carrier]

Look here: Civil Aviation Medicine - Personnel Training & Licensing - Air Transportation - Transport Canada (http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/cam/menu.htm) Send them an email if you are not able to find all the answers you need.

[flying free.LEVC]

Thanks for your answar Carrier, I have sent them an email. Anyway, anybody knows the current limits of the error refraction? How many dioptries are allowed in the Initial medical exam??

Warm regards.

[ATPMBA]

I talked to a doctor in the states several years that did FAA and Transport Canada Medicals and he acted like he never heard of that 3 diopter limit for Canada. I think the only way they can determine your diopters is for you to bring your prescription in. Perhaps it is in the regs but they don't check on it.

[Lun-Yeung]

I did my initial TC Class 1 Medical in October in YVR. Very straightforward. Urinalysis, basic check with the Aviation Doctor, then ECG and Hearing test.

The ECG was done in a lab, and the results had to be read and analyzed by a heart specialist.

Hearing test was quite intense. Put you inside a sound proof box with a headset, and listen out for the different tones. They included some static as well to distract you.

You also have to listen to some words and repeat what you hear.

Total cost: 160 for the Doctor, 40 for the ECG, 20 for the heart specialist to read my ECG, and 50 dollars for the hearing test. All Canadian Dollars.

Hope it helps. All the best.

[jonny dangerous]

Now it's been a while since I did my initial Cat 1 medical exam (1985), but I initially did not pass the vision requirements, as the limit was (at that time, if I recall correctly) -3.00 diopters. (-5.00 for the Cat 2 medical for PPL.)

My eyes were -2.25 and -4.75. The Regional Medical Examiner at the time required I get contact lenses and wear them for 6 months. They were apparently worried about my peripheral vision with thicker glass lenses.

I received the Cat 1 medical shortly afterwards. I have had it ever since, and my latest prescription is -3.25 and -5.25.

[flying free.LEVC]

Thank you very much, in that case I supose I won't have problems even with 4 or 5 diopters in each eye.

Good luck

[SAS-A321]

There is no dioptre limits, the info on TC's web is outdated.

[Carrier]

flyingfree.LEVC: The easiest way to find out if you will pass is to go and do the medical. There is no need to go to Canada for it. Just visit the nearest CAME. The TCCA website indicates that there are two in Spain. I suggest you make an appointment with one of them. Let the quack know you are intending to fly for a career and therefore will be looking for a Category 1 and make sure you put in the appropriate box on the form that you need it for your career.

Vision seems to be your concern, so presumably you are fit in all other aspects. If your vision can be corrected to 20/20 there should not be a problem. Twenty years or more ago TC Medicine used to give a qualified Cat 1 under "flexibility" to those who needed serious vision correction. In some cases they asked for a practical test. I believe that entailed a quick flight in a C152 or similar with a suitable person such as an instructor, who would then sign the form with a few comments indicating that the person could perform normally as a pilot., assuming that the candidate's corrected vision really would permit him to perform normally. After a couple of years or so with no problems the "F" for flexibility would be dropped. The licence would then have the usual qualification: "Glasses Or Contact Lenses Must Be Worn" that so many of us have.

Just go and see your nearest CAME. Make sure your glasses and/or contact lenses are to your current prescription to give you your best vision and ask your eye doc for a copy of your prescription to take to the CAME. Good luck!