CAA Initial Class 1 Medical Wait Time?

[TomahawkEI]

Hi everyone,

anyone have any idea how long the wait time is for an Initial Class 1 Medical to be issued by the UK at this time?

I had to go to a specialist as part of the referral to specialist in certain situations. They have written the required letter, so I’m wondering in these referral non-normal situations does anyone have an idea of the wait time? As the CAA are the ones to have the final say, not the AME.

[Jordan199721]

Im in the same boat and have been told 1 month plus!

[MrOrange]

It can vary; some people have had their answer within a few days though so hopefully you won't have to wait too long!

[scottishguy1980]

I'm in a similar situation and spoke with the CAA today. They have said normally it is a 10 working day turnaround but also stated that they are very busy. The lady I spoken to actually looked up my case and told me where it was in the process. I'm hoping for a quick turnaround too. All my reports and tests have been done and thankfully all okay. Lets hope they can sign it off quickly!

SG1980

[TomahawkEI]

Well I can let you all know so we are all in the loop in these strange times. I’ve heard they are backed up pretty bad with Brexit and many staff overloaded as a result, so it’s hard to know how long it could take.

if you guys hear back let me know how many working days it takes.

thanks and good luck all!

[scottishguy1980]

Hi Guys.

Just got word over the phone that I've been passed fit for my Class 3. So, that's pretty much bang on the 10 working days turnaround time that I was quoted. Hope you all hear soon. Definitely worth chasing it up by telephone.

SG1980

[TomahawkEI]

Hi thanks for the reply. What number did you finally get an answer on?
thanks for the update. 20 business days or a month now for me no answer yet

[scottishguy1980]

Hi thanks for the reply. What number did you finally get an answer on?
thanks for the update. 20 business days or a month now for me no answer yet
I used the 0330 022 1972, Option 1 then option 3. I've managed to get through each and every time. I must say, they've been very helpful.

SG1980

[TomahawkEI]

I used the 0330 022 1972, Option 1 then option 3. I've managed to get through each and every time. I must say, they've been very helpful.

SG1980

Hi
Thanks for passing this along. I gave them a buzz, very nice lady answered. It’s in the right hands and may know within a week. That at least is nice to know!
Thanks so much for the feedback, congrats on the class 3 ;)

[onichols1]

Had mine last week - took me two months to get a date.

[TomahawkEI]

Are you saying...
Took two months to get a date for the class 1 medical exam with an AME? OR it took two months to get your result?

[sethgecko]

When I spoke to my AME (Heathrow Medical Services) last week they advised a 2-3 week lead time.

[TomahawkEI]

It’s now approaching 6 weeks for me, since the AME visit

[sethgecko]

It’s now approaching 6 weeks for me, since the AME visit

Was it 12th March you spoke to them and they were going to advise you within a week? Any further contact with them?

Further complications with Brexit for sure although looks like there is a 2 week extension (possibly 2 months). Mine went from AME to CAA yesterday, so was unlikely to be processed by the 29th, I have to transfer me to an Austrian licence before I can start training (started a thread bout it in medical).

Hopefully you will get yours soon!

[TomahawkEI]

Hi,
yeh the lady thought I may have an answer within that week. It’s all Brexit stuff, they are overwhelmed with a busy time in aviation, followed by historic amounts of SOLI requests etc
hopefully I will hear soon, I just put the post up to hear from others so I’m not standing waiting on the postman every day.....so basically someone like yourself that sent yours yesterday I can tell you hey chill for at least a month there’s nothing you can do to speed it up

hopefully the extra time provides breathing space.

was yours referred to CAA medical also for an initial class 1? Was it cardio, allergy, vision? Wonder if the specific area even makes a difference

why did you select Austria for training? (Sideline banter)

[sethgecko]

I had a referral for Cardiologist and Psychiatrist both reports came back fine. My assumption is that the CAA will just have to review these reports and sign off on the Class 1. The CAA cardiologist is already engaged by the AME as the request to have an exercise ECG and echocardiogram came from him after reviewing the ECG taken at the AME appointment I can't see how there is a great deal of effort required on their side but if its a 1st come, 1st served queue basis then my paperwork might just sit there for a few weeks.

I am joining an EZY MPL Programme and all cadets are required to transfer their Class 1 to Austrian.

I really hope it does not take a Month but I hear what you are saying about setting expectations.

[TomahawkEI]

Hey,
So the other thing is if you then, once getting your class 1 initial, if you then need a SOLI to Austria, that SOLI process could take anything from 1-3 months! Hopefully because the original Brexit deadline was March 29, you’d hope most of that has been cleared by now and things while not normal just not as bad, hopefully you’ll hear word soon enough.

thats great though that you got into the MPL with EZY. How long is the course? Is it entirely in Austria?
so with that you have to front up the money for the course, but legally if you complete the course and pass everything do they have to offer you a pilot spot and so many hours? ie can they legally offer you the job at 0 hours and essentially leave you having paid for the course and not flying and no income. Just curious

[sethgecko]

The SOLI takes 1-3 Months? that is shocking, I was previously advised it was a matter of days. That is cause for concern, i need to look into this.

EZY opened a European HQ in Austria during 2017 as a risk mitigation strategy to ensure they could continue operating post Brexit. Well that is how I have been led to understand it. I have an idea of why some of the EZY candidates are required to convert their CLASS 1 to Austrian but nothing factual so I will not comment here.

I will send you a PM about the terms of the MPL as its off topic to what we are discussing in this thread.

[TomahawkEI]

Hi
not meaning to cause alarm, but the Soli just reading other posts people quoting 1 month and another stating by 3 months it still wasn’t sorted. Don’t take my word for it though have a search around there may be reasons why his got held up so long

[sethgecko]

Just to be clear the Soli process is a transfer of licence right? Therefore to transfer a UK CAA Class 1 Medical to an Austrian medical is not the same process? Currently searching to try and clear this up.

[TomahawkEI]

Well I’m not exactly sure to be honest either. It’s about all records I thought, where the initial Class 1 is held, if you wish to transfer the holder of that to another country you need a SOLI ....at least I thought

normally you could renew in Austria and your EASA from the UK is fine to renew and use in Austria but the problem here is Brexit and no one is sure whether the UK and CAA will stay EASA members

hopefully others would chime in, might be worthwhile though asking your Austrian school and EZY contact all the same, I’m sure your not the only one in the situation
they May have more definite answers??

[sethgecko]

Yes, as you say there will be others in this situation. Trying to track other cadets down that are going through this.

My flight school is based in the UK (L3).

I don't have access to an EZY contact as of yet.

I did call the CAA this morning and they were unable to advise on timescales for issuing my CAA Class 1 medical or comment on transfer times. The lady was as helpful as she could be, it just appears that there are too many variables and unknowns. I have reached out to L3 to see if they can provide any comment on the Austria transfer time as they will certainly have other EZY tagged cadets due to start soon going through this process.

[sethgecko]

Well I had a surprise today in the mail. My Class 1 Medical certificate came through!

They only received the deferral reports from the AME last Thursday so they processed it within 3 working days.

[TomahawkEI]

Thanks for the heads up really appreciate it