First Job with an OML
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First Job with an OML
Hi everyone,
Long time viewer, first-time poster.
Wondering if anyone here had ever had success themselves, or known of anyone who has had success, gaining first employment with a Class 1 (UK) restricted with an OML, and a Class 2 Unrestricted.
I am an aspiring professional pilot, but unfortunately come from a family with a long history of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. This condition's genetic pattern means that because my Dad was affected, I'm at 50% chance of inheriting the condition too. The CAA currently doesn't issue initial medicals if one has the condition, but offers a renewal with an OML restriction. Currently I'm a glider pilot and am going through selection processes for PPL Scholarships. One of the questions they may ask me is what my career plans are, as I understand the scholarship is for those who are going to become airline/professional pilots.
For reference, I'm approaching the end of a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering, and I had plans to go down either the Integrated route if I could secure funding, or Modular and self-fund.
With the OML on top of my Medical, I've read and been told that there is virtually zero chance of me being offered a first job.
What's the consensus- go ahead with commercial despite the OML or drop the idea of professional flying and stick with the day job?
Thanks in advance.
Long time viewer, first-time poster.
Wondering if anyone here had ever had success themselves, or known of anyone who has had success, gaining first employment with a Class 1 (UK) restricted with an OML, and a Class 2 Unrestricted.
I am an aspiring professional pilot, but unfortunately come from a family with a long history of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. This condition's genetic pattern means that because my Dad was affected, I'm at 50% chance of inheriting the condition too. The CAA currently doesn't issue initial medicals if one has the condition, but offers a renewal with an OML restriction. Currently I'm a glider pilot and am going through selection processes for PPL Scholarships. One of the questions they may ask me is what my career plans are, as I understand the scholarship is for those who are going to become airline/professional pilots.
For reference, I'm approaching the end of a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering, and I had plans to go down either the Integrated route if I could secure funding, or Modular and self-fund.
With the OML on top of my Medical, I've read and been told that there is virtually zero chance of me being offered a first job.
What's the consensus- go ahead with commercial despite the OML or drop the idea of professional flying and stick with the day job?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Rob,
I was in pretty much the same situation as you. Did a degree in Aero Eng. Got diagnosed with PCKD on my mother's side. I was lucky enough to get a class 1 medical 2 years ago whilst the CAA were issuing initials with the OML restriction. I'm not sure if they still do this. My best advice is to get the medical done and see if they will issue you one. Quite a few of my fellow trainee pilots have OMLs for a variety of reasons and so far the recruiters I've spoken to have not mentioned anything about it being an issue with getting a multicrew job. It does however restrict you to multicrew work which in the current climate might be an issue. My advice to you. Get the medical done, get a job and go modular whilst you train and then hunt for a multicrew job. Or try and get on an airline sponsored program if you can afford it / if they are still open.
I was in pretty much the same situation as you. Did a degree in Aero Eng. Got diagnosed with PCKD on my mother's side. I was lucky enough to get a class 1 medical 2 years ago whilst the CAA were issuing initials with the OML restriction. I'm not sure if they still do this. My best advice is to get the medical done and see if they will issue you one. Quite a few of my fellow trainee pilots have OMLs for a variety of reasons and so far the recruiters I've spoken to have not mentioned anything about it being an issue with getting a multicrew job. It does however restrict you to multicrew work which in the current climate might be an issue. My advice to you. Get the medical done, get a job and go modular whilst you train and then hunt for a multicrew job. Or try and get on an airline sponsored program if you can afford it / if they are still open.
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Regardless of condition, I don’t think there is any rush to fund a flying course right now.
Theres likely to be thousands of experienced pilots on the market shortly - it’ll be worse recession for aviation ever.
when you do get going best of luck though .
Theres likely to be thousands of experienced pilots on the market shortly - it’ll be worse recession for aviation ever.
when you do get going best of luck though .
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Hi,
thanks for the reply, sorry I’m so atrocious at getting back to people as I’m only just now figuring out how to use the “reply” feature!
It’s really great to see someone else with PKD flying. I do in fact anecdotally know a story of one chap who flew for a Gulf Carrier and then Cathay who had PKD. I was told about him by my nephrologist when I broached the subject of flying.
I’ve just sat my class 1 medical a few days ago, waiting to hear back if they will give me an initial class 1 with an OML, am hoping they are still issuing. I was told that it was likely the CAA will stipulate that I need to have an ultrasound every year at renewal!
drop me a pm if you’d like- I’d love to talk more as I think there are very few of us PKD guys in the commercial flying game.
thanks for the reply, sorry I’m so atrocious at getting back to people as I’m only just now figuring out how to use the “reply” feature!
It’s really great to see someone else with PKD flying. I do in fact anecdotally know a story of one chap who flew for a Gulf Carrier and then Cathay who had PKD. I was told about him by my nephrologist when I broached the subject of flying.
I’ve just sat my class 1 medical a few days ago, waiting to hear back if they will give me an initial class 1 with an OML, am hoping they are still issuing. I was told that it was likely the CAA will stipulate that I need to have an ultrasound every year at renewal!
drop me a pm if you’d like- I’d love to talk more as I think there are very few of us PKD guys in the commercial flying game.
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Meester proach
Absolutely agree. It astounds me the amount of teenagers pouring into integrated schools now in this current climate- I’d be flying for the lark for a few years while working to fund the next stages If I was blessed with a medical. Fortunately as a glider guy I should be able to get some towing hours under my belt at zero cost which would allow me to bide my time while I see what the market does and how kindly employers take to guys like me who seem to be held together with plasters (PKD is not my only medical issue).
Absolutely agree. It astounds me the amount of teenagers pouring into integrated schools now in this current climate- I’d be flying for the lark for a few years while working to fund the next stages If I was blessed with a medical. Fortunately as a glider guy I should be able to get some towing hours under my belt at zero cost which would allow me to bide my time while I see what the market does and how kindly employers take to guys like me who seem to be held together with plasters (PKD is not my only medical issue).
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Hi Rob,
I see that you also started the thread on tallness as well as this one. Lets say you end up being issued a C1 medical with or without an OML. Lets say you do your training over the next few years and with luck get a job flying with an airline. I'm making an assumption that you are reasonably young, say 25-30.
Having overcome all the obstacles in your way, you are now looking forward to a 25-35 year career where every year, and later twice a year, your livelihood is on the line when you come to renew your medical. Now, at the start of your career, if you lost the medical it would be a disaster, but one that you have time to recover from. The longer you go on, and perhaps take on a mortgage and a family, the more entrenched you become in aviation as the alternatives just do not pay the bills. I refer you to the 'Life after Aviation Thread' on Terms and Endearment where redundant pilots are making some hard life decisions. Your existing medical condition may have an impact on your ability to hold Loss of License Insurance, which most of us have as a life raft. It will certainly have an impact if you want to work outside of Europe.
What I'm getting at, is that to attempt this career with the an enhanced possibility of losing the medical and therefore your livelihood is potentially very stressful. I am speaking from 35 years personal experience, and it has led to quite a lot of heartache and stress. Also some counter productive career decisions. Although. when I was 25. all I could think about was getting the bits of paper that would enable me to fly. When I retired last year, one of the biggest reliefs was not to have to face the medical again.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow your dream, as nothing, least of all a medical issue, would have stopped me. But just be aware that the decision to do so will have some unintended consequences further down the line.
Best of Luck
I see that you also started the thread on tallness as well as this one. Lets say you end up being issued a C1 medical with or without an OML. Lets say you do your training over the next few years and with luck get a job flying with an airline. I'm making an assumption that you are reasonably young, say 25-30.
Having overcome all the obstacles in your way, you are now looking forward to a 25-35 year career where every year, and later twice a year, your livelihood is on the line when you come to renew your medical. Now, at the start of your career, if you lost the medical it would be a disaster, but one that you have time to recover from. The longer you go on, and perhaps take on a mortgage and a family, the more entrenched you become in aviation as the alternatives just do not pay the bills. I refer you to the 'Life after Aviation Thread' on Terms and Endearment where redundant pilots are making some hard life decisions. Your existing medical condition may have an impact on your ability to hold Loss of License Insurance, which most of us have as a life raft. It will certainly have an impact if you want to work outside of Europe.
What I'm getting at, is that to attempt this career with the an enhanced possibility of losing the medical and therefore your livelihood is potentially very stressful. I am speaking from 35 years personal experience, and it has led to quite a lot of heartache and stress. Also some counter productive career decisions. Although. when I was 25. all I could think about was getting the bits of paper that would enable me to fly. When I retired last year, one of the biggest reliefs was not to have to face the medical again.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow your dream, as nothing, least of all a medical issue, would have stopped me. But just be aware that the decision to do so will have some unintended consequences further down the line.
Best of Luck
I got an associated letter from CAA medical when they issued my Class 1 with an OML there is nothing on there to indicate any further requirements unless clinically indicated in the future. I've done 2 revalidations since, one wanted to see my latest blood test that I have done every year on the NHS to keep track of how PCKD is progressing, the other didn't even ask for that. It's a bit of a role of the dice as to how affected by PCKD you will be in the future. Current job market is pretty dire but that could all change in a few years.
UK CAA no longer issue Class 1 initials with an OML. But there is a work around. Instead you get another restriction that sounds pretty career ending which states "Not valid for any commercial operation" - kinda defeats the point of a class 1.... but then you get it instantly revalidated (expect to pay for that!) and they can now issue you an OML as it's no longer an initial - Bureaucracy at its finest!
Best of luck with it all. Let me know If I can be of any further help.
UK CAA no longer issue Class 1 initials with an OML. But there is a work around. Instead you get another restriction that sounds pretty career ending which states "Not valid for any commercial operation" - kinda defeats the point of a class 1.... but then you get it instantly revalidated (expect to pay for that!) and they can now issue you an OML as it's no longer an initial - Bureaucracy at its finest!
Best of luck with it all. Let me know If I can be of any further help.
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Hi! Great to see you are still active on here. Your name is one that stuck in my head as there are very few of us PKD guys attempting to enter the airline industry. I’m waiting to hear back from the CAA now regarding the outcome of the medical. How is your training going? Drop me a PM if you’re like to chat.
Weirdly I don’t yet have any cysts visible on Ultrasound. It’s a bit of a mystery as to as and when I’m going to start having issues with cysts and a decline in kidney function. At the age of almost 24 my blood pressure is still comfortably within the “normal” range, the CAA nurse seemed happy with that as no need for any medication or intervention yet. Nephrologist is happy for me to remain under observation.
Weirdly I don’t yet have any cysts visible on Ultrasound. It’s a bit of a mystery as to as and when I’m going to start having issues with cysts and a decline in kidney function. At the age of almost 24 my blood pressure is still comfortably within the “normal” range, the CAA nurse seemed happy with that as no need for any medication or intervention yet. Nephrologist is happy for me to remain under observation.
