Issued my Initial Class 1 Medical with an OML restriction. Best course to take?

[Spencer94]

Hi!

I have a very mild peanut allergy and because of this I applied for my Class 1 Medical before I embarked on any training as I knew it would be a huge hurdle. Initially I failed my medical, but appealed the decision and after 14 months of fighting I have been issued my Class 1 Medical with an OML limitation. Hurdle one out of the way.

Hurdle two. Now that I am in a position to apply to Oxford Aviation Academy or L3 Airline Academy I have noticed that for both of their Integrated ATPL courses it states that I need to hold an EASA Class 1 Medical "without restrictions". However, both are also advertising the Generation easyJet Pilot Training program and this only states that I need to hold an EASA Class 1 Medical, no mention of "without restrictions". I am wondering if this is because on is an ATPL and the other is an MPL. Could this make a difference?

Even if I get past hurdle two I know that hurdle 3 would be securing a job.

Any advice on beginning a career or even starting training with an OML would be greatly appreciated.

[safelife]

You got the OML just for having a peanut allergy?
I have more food allergies than II could list, but never any issues with the medical.

[LSC172]

In which contry was your medical issued ? It should not be possible to issue a initial class 1 with an OML as the regulation states it is possible only for revalidation or renewal of a certificate.

[Spencer94]

safelife, for better or for worse, yes. On the one hand I'm grateful for the OML considering they failed me initially, but on the other hand with all that i have been reading it can make securing a job very difficult.

LSC172, it was issued in UK, but from what i understand there are very few people who have this OML at the initial medical stage.

Field Required, thank you, that's good to hear. You say that you also benefited from the rule change, so I presume you also have an OML on your initial medical, can I ask what stage you are at and if you have found any problems along the way?

[Nurse2Pilot]

What? Multi-crew limitation for a VERY MILD peanut allergy? How did they work that one out?

[Spencer94]

What? Multi-crew limitation for a VERY MILD peanut allergy? How did they work that one out?
Unfortunately, yes. They said that even though it is unlikely, they cannot guarantee that there would be no anaphylaxis.

[Spencer94]

Spencer, I'm presuming your OML states you can only use class 1 privileges in a multicrew environment? I.e as or with a qualified copilot? I reached out and was informed that this wouldn't be an issue going into the airlines. In fact it's not uncommon for people to be given OMLs further down the line once already established in their respective careers. You can't have two OMLs on the flight deck together, that's about it.
I'm hour building and sitting the ATPLs currently.

Yes that is what it states, which is why I was not particularly worried about the OML initially, because as far as I was concerned I would always be with a qualified copilot. But from a number of forum posts that I've read it seems to make it difficult to find a job after training or at any time in a career. This is great to hear and I'm hoping to hear more to quash my worries. Who did you reach out to? Any airlines?

[magicmick]

At the risk of being the harbinger of doom, if you go on to train and qualify as a low hours pilot you will be competing for jobs with hundreds/ thousands of other low hours pilots. Many of the competition will not have an OML on their medical, you need to seriously ask yourself why would an airline employ me over someone who does not have an OML on their medical?

If someone is already established and experienced in their flying career and they get an OML on their licence then I could understand that an airline would not want to lose their experienced staff.

Unfortunately there is no shortage of low hours candidates.

Sorry to appear so negative but just trying to inject some reality before you commit to spending an eye watering sum of your/ someone else’s money. If you do decide to proceed with your training then I sincerely wish you nothing but luck in your training and subsequent job hunt.

[Contact Approach]

magicmick, the OML is absolutely irrelevant to employment provided it's operating in a multicrew environment. You are also misinformed... we've actually been short of crew this summer, as have many other airlines. No one is guaranteed a job after training, however, now is not the worst time to be a low houred cadet. OML or no OML, you are assessed on your abilities and If you make the grade then you make the grade; many don't.

[magicmick]

Hi CA, I absolutely understand your points, however the schools are churning out low hours freshly qualified candidates at a rate that exceeds demand by some margin so I do not accept that there is a shortage of low hours candidates looking for work, there may well be a shortage of type rated candidates with over a thousand hours experience but that's another matter.

I agree that if a candidate is fortunate enough to be invited to an assessment day/ interview then their performance on the day will dictate whether or not they get hired. Unfortunately completing an application form does not guarantee progress to assessment/ interview, many operators want to know details of any medical limitations as part of the application form and may well filter out those with limitations in favour of those with no limitations before the assessment/ interview stage.

My concern is that Spencer might commit to an expensive integrated course without fully considering all the possible implications of the medical limitation.

Of course if Spencer goes ahead with training they will not complete until 18 months to 2 years from now, will the recruitment situation be worse then? How will Brexit affect recruitment? Of course that situation will be the same for all people qualifying at that time.

[Contact Approach]

Integrated training is expensive and will always be a significant investment. There are many pros and cons. The only thing we know for sure is one needs a licence to apply for a job. Without it you aren't getting anywhere. I've never heard of applications being filtered by medical restrictions over eligibility. Airlines conduct computer based assessments to filter through the rubbish these days. Sometimes you won't hear anything, that's just the luck of the draw.
A multicrew OML would be pretty useless if what you are saying is fact. Out of interest do you have any experience to add merit to your advice?

[magicmick]

Sadly I am not involved in the black art that is recruitment and recruiters do not share their secrets with me which is why I use the phrase ‘may well’

Every application that I have made for employment has required me to confirm that I have a Class 1 medical, state whether or not I have ever been refused a medical, confirm my medical expiry date and whether I have any limitations. In that case Spencer would have to confirm that they have been refused a medical and that they have an OML.

Why would they ask for details of limitations and refused medicals if it plays absolutely no part in the recruitment process?

Equally I am not aware of any low hours pilots having been hired lately with OMLs other than if they need spectacles. Perhaps someone reading this who has been recruited as a low hours pilot with an OML other than spectacles or knows someone who has been recruited as a low hours pilot with an OML other than spectacles might care to share their information.

It’s all too easy to encourage someone to continue when it’s not your money that is being spent. I am just looking to inject a note of caution into the matter without being cynical. If Spencer decides to go ahead then that’s their decision and I wish them all the best but they do need to consider the possible ramifications of their medical situation.

[miller745]

Did your AME refer to you see a specialist allergist? I had to see a doctor at The Shard in London due to my peanut allergy before the AME would issue a class 2. Unfortunately I can't apply for a class 1 at the minute and I'm learning on helicopters so my situation is different.

[Spencer94]

Yes, he sent me to an immunologist that I had previously seen because he wanted several questions answering before he could make any kind of informed decision.

[Spencer94]

Contact Approach & magicmick, thank you both very much for your input, I am very grateful and I am considering both arguments. These two arguments are similar to those that I keep seeing elsewhere, some say yes some say no. I'm a very cautions person and a big part of me says this is a huge risk. The other part of me is the part that has wanted to be a pilot since the age of 10. It seems wrong to me that a fully qualified pilot who is medically sound within the CAA's rules, could lose out on a job because of their medical. What happens if out of 2 applicants I am the better candidate? Do they blackball me because of this OML?

Maybe not in the first 6 months / first year, but surely a pilot qualifying with good results would get a job offer despite an OML? I'm sure that's incredibly naive.

Who do I ask to give me enough confidence to either go through with the training or decide that this is the end of the line?

[Nurse2Pilot]

Unfortunately, yes. They said that even though it is unlikely, they cannot guarantee that there would be no anaphylaxis.Can you share more of what they told you why the OML is in place? How in the world would you get an anaphylactic reaction in the flight deck from a very mild peanut allergy? Is the flight yoke made of peanut? There is no guarantee you'll not have an anaphylactic attack but by the same vein, there is no guarantee that the fit-and-healthy captain beside you won't have a heart attack. SMH.

[magicmick]

Hi Spencer, have you considered attending Flight Crew Futures:

https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/flightcrew/

There will be recruiters there that you can talk to and explain your concerns, they might be able to offer medical advice.

You are right that the best candidate should get the job if they have the medical but sadly the world is not a fair and ideal place, good luck.

[Contact Approach]

Spencer, you have been granted a medical. Proceed, but proceed with caution. I agree with magicmick, attend a futures fair. Best of luck.

[magicmick]

Hello Again Spencer,

Out of interest, have you spoken to the training schools that you are considering regarding your limitation? During PPL training and hours building you will be expected to make solo flights, will the training school's insurance cover a solo trainee who has a food allergy?

[Spencer94]

Nurse2Pilot, I believe it is because it is 'advised' that people with a peanut allergy carry an epipen. My thoughts exactly, in fact, there's no guarantee that the captain beside you wouldn't develop a peanut allergy and not know about it.

Contact Appoach, such a big part of me is saying that, and that there must be a job for me at some point. But again it comes down to the money. If it was £10/20,000 I would do it and take the gamble but I cant do that with £125,000, I have to have a reasonable level of confidence that I could secure a job first.

magicmick, thank you, I hadn't thought of Flight Crew Futures but its definitely something that I will look into now, it could be very helpful in this situation.

I emailed the schools about their Integrated ATPL courses and got a reply earlier. They say that as long as my Class 2 allows me to fly solo then they would train me. However in the same email they also said that I may have a problem securing a job afterwards considering the OML on my Class 1. I have asked them if they know of any airlines that would or wouldn't consider hiring me just to gauge if its possible but I haven't got a reply yet.

[Red2]

There’s a guy on my course at cae on the easyJet program who had his initial class 1 issued with OML restriction (also due to mild peanut allergy), so at least easy doesn’t seem to mind.

[Spencer94]

There’s a guy on my course at cae on the easyJet program who had his initial class 1 issued with OML restriction (also due to mild peanut allergy), so at least easy doesn’t seem to mind.
That's brilliant to know, thank you! Is there any chance that you could ask them if they could answer a couple of questions for me / put me in contact with them please?

[Contact Approach]

Red2, we're a friendly bunch thats why! Like I mentioned previously Spencer, just go get it done and enjoy your career!

[TryingToAvoidCBs]

Although I entirely agree with the cautious comments on here, I'd like to inject a drop of hope.

At the grand old age of 19 I was told I required heart surgery due an on going problem from birth that never quite fixed itself. I cancelled my plans to join the RAF and headed off to Uni for 5 long years and forgot about aviation. 7 years passed, and having eventually had heart surgery twic,e but also been signed off as "perfectly fit and healthy" by my cardiologist I approached the CAA to see what hope I had of getting a medical.
It wasn't easy. I waited 10 months to get a class 2 so I could at least start my PPL, and almost 2 years to get a class 1. Although I was never refused a medical, and I don't have any restrictions, it was a long road for a couple of years. Gladly it all worked out and I'm now an FO on the 737 (not the blue one).

My advice would be if at all possible attempt to contact the recruitment depts of a few airlines and asked them directly. What have you got to lose?.....apart from 100K

Good luck

[Red2]

That's brilliant to know, thank you! Is there any chance that you could ask them if they could answer a couple of questions for me / put me in contact with them please?

Sure, I’m not sure if it possible for me to receive DMs, but if you post any questions I’ll ask him when i get a chance.

You can’t use the Private Messaging system, add url links or images until you have an established posting history.

[Spencer94]

Contact Approach, I am strongly leaning towards towards doing it, maybe I just have to bite the bullet, but for now I will continue to search to get a little more confidence in the idea.

TryingToAvoidCBs, That is a great story and I'm made up for you that after all that time it has worked out! I'm hoping I can have the same success and a story like that certainly injects a little more hope. I am considering attempting to get a clean Class 1, hopefully by proving that the severity of my allergy is low, but I don't have too much faith in the idea. I have spent some time today emailing the recruitment departments of several airlines and I'm just hoping for total honesty from them.

[Spencer94]

Sure, I’m not sure if it possible for me to receive DMs, but if you post any questions I’ll ask him when i get a chance.

You can’t use the Private Messaging system, add url links or images until you have an established posting history.

Thanks Red2, that would be perfect! I'll have a little think about a couple of questions this evening and I'll post them tomorrow if that would be alright.

[Nurse2Pilot]

Nurse2Pilot, I believe it is because it is 'advised' that people with a peanut allergy carry an epipen. My thoughts exactly, in fact, there's no guarantee that the captain beside you wouldn't develop a peanut allergy and not know about it.Do you carry an epipen with you at all times? Have you ever had to use one?

I have witnessed fit-and-healthy patients with no allergies go into anaphylaxis due to some drug or antibiotic, I personally know at least two individuals who are fit, play sports (basketball), go hiking, biking, etc. but both have suffered strokes and it was because of the nature of their circle of friends (nurses, doctors), they got quick help and recovered from the heart attack but fact still remains they were very fit, no health problems, but still got a heart attack.

[Spencer94]

Nurse2Pilot, I haven't in the past, however a stipulation of the OML is that I carry 2 during flights in order for the medical to be valid. I have never had to use an Epipen.

They have been my exact thoughts from the very beginning of this medical calamity. I know of my allergy and the best ways to avoid a reaction and this greatly reduces my chances of having one, but other pilots they may not know of an allergy they have, have an anaphylactic reaction and don't have any way of dealing with that situation in the cockpit. People can develop allergies or other medical conditions at any stage in life without knowing about them. I may consider this argument if I decide to try and get the OML removed at some stage.

[Spencer94]

Sorry, it's been a couple of days due to work.

I have a few questions for the person on your course if that's okay:

- Did easyJet know about the OML on your medical at any point before they offered you a place on the MPL course? Did they say anything in particular about the OML? Do you have any advice about starting training with an OML, were you worried at all before you started your training?

Red 2 I'm very grateful for your help with this because its probably the closest I've got to a definitive answer and it's given me a little more confidence that I could actually do this.

[miller745]

I emailed the schools about their Integrated ATPL courses and got a reply earlier. They say that as long as my Class 2 allows me to fly solo then they would train me. However in the same email they also said that I may have a problem securing a job afterwards considering the OML on my Class 1. I have asked them if they know of any airlines that would or wouldn't consider hiring me just to gauge if its possible but I haven't got a reply yet.

Just a thought, if you lower to a Class 2, it will probably come with an OSL restriction which means you can't go solo. I think OSL is the non-commercial equivalent of OML restriction.
I have OSL on my Class 2 which I'm appealing to the CAA for it's removal so I can solo.

[Red2]

He contacted CAE to confirm that he would be eligible for the easyJet program - they checked and said it would be fine (his class 2 permits him to solo). At the end of the course you start as an FO with easyJet, so employment wise it wasn’t too much of a concern. Also the MPL is a multi-crew restricted license, so the OML would sort of exist anyways.

I think, for peace of mind, you would be best contacting CAE in a similar way just to confirm that the OML won’t be an issue. Again, all of this is specifically for the easyJet MPL - it could very well work differently at other airlines.

Hope that helps.

[Nurse2Pilot]

Spencer94, can you tell me what steps exactly you had to do? You mentioned seeing an immunologist but what questions were asked and what were the answers?

[Vernand]

LSC172, the rules have since changed. I also benefitted from the change like the OP.

Spencer, you will be fine provided you go down the airline route - multicrew.


hello LSC172,

Could you help me out a bit, I am stuck on the OML loop, the Portuguese Authority does not want to issue me the medical 1 with the OML limitation, due to the way the OML limitation law is written, it misses the statement refering initial applicants, as seen below:


(d) Operational limitation codes
(1) Operational multi-pilot limitation (OML – Class 1 only)
(i) When the holder of a CPL, ATPL or MPL does not fully meet the requirements for a class 1 medical certificate and has been referred to the licensing authority, it shall assess whether the medical certificate may be issued with an OML ‘valid only as or with qualified co-pilot’.
(ii) The holder of a medical certificate with an OML shall only operate an aircraft in multi-pilot operations when the other pilot is fully qualified on the relevant type of aircraft, is not subject to an OML and has not attained the age of 60 years.
(iii) The OML for class 1 medical certificates shall only be imposed and removed by the licensing authority.

if anyone could help me out, on how to fight/ appeal to this? Maybe even cases I could use ? Or other EASA aviation authorities I should go to ? I have full reports of my doctors all translated to english ready to go ! and even the Portuguese authority (ANAC) doctor says that for him everything is ok, except that the OML could not be given to an initial medical certificate. Right now my only escape is to go to the USA get an FAA med1 (which I am in process of requesting) however I really want an EASA Medical certificate as I would like to do the ATPL.

Thank you OP and all in this forum for any help!

[Jjimmyy]

Hi Vernand,

I've just had my initial class 1 issued with an OML restriction in the UK. As far as I am aware the UK CAA is the only EASA member state who will issue you a Class 1 initial with an OML restriction. Each case has to be assessed by the CAA if you require an OML. My advice would be to come to the UK (before Brexit!) and get your EASA class 1 issued here with the OML. Then apply for a change of state of medical issue to which ever country you will be doing your training in. I know my flight school required your EASA class1 to be issued by the UK CAA.

Good luck!

[Vernand]

Thank you very much for your reply Jjimmyy, and for your message. I cannot open it until I post a certain amount of posts here in pprune, but thank you very much any ways sir.

[TomahawkEI]

Good info right there

[Vernand]

Meanwhile I scheduled an appointment for 1st class med at Aviation Medical services in Horley on the 31st of January, I will let you know how it went.

[jordiandorra]

Hi Vernand/Jjimmyy! This is Jordi from Andorra. I have exactly the same problem. I've applied for initial 1st class in Spain and the authority is agree to issue the 1st class + OML restriction as proposed by the Aeronautical doctor, but not as inicial, it concludes as unfit because I couldn't fly solo for training and obtaining the license.
Did you finally get your initial 1st class + OML in UK? was this center aviationmedicalswessex?

Any other help is very welcome.

Thank you,

[Whiskey Bravo]

Couple of potentially incorrect posts here. The condition creating the OML restriction for Class 1 does not automatically translate into an OSL restriction on Class 2. The standards are very different and it is perfectly possible to hold an un-restricted Class 2.

[Tapperdills1]

You got the OML just for having a peanut allergy?
I have more food allergies than II could list, but never any issues with the medical.
Did you declare them or just avoid them

[PPRuNeUser0181]

Yes, he sent me to an immunologist that I had previously seen because he wanted several questions answering before he could make any kind of informed decision.


Hi Spencer.
Hoping you are still active on here? I too was referred to an immunologist for further testing. I have just received the results which show I am allergic to ara h 2 and ara h 6. Not ideal parts of the peanut as they suggest a potentially severe reaction is possible, however I have had only mild reactions in the past. I have not yet submitted this info to the CAA. Do you think it is likely that I will be issued with an OML or will they straight up refuse to issue the class 1?

Also, how has your flying career been? Did you pursue training? If so have you completed it and have you been successful in any jobs? Thanks!

[PPRuNeUser0181]

Meanwhile I scheduled an appointment for 1st class med at Aviation Medical services in Horley on the 31st of January, I will let you know how it went.
Hi Vernand, how did this go?