Class one booked!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 900
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From: Surrey
Class one booked!
Hey guys,
I've booked my class 1 for the beginning of July, its not with the CAA, but any info about it would be good! I know whats involved (EEG,ECG etc etc) but is there any advice that would be usuful for it? I've got a bastard of a cold at the moment but it should clear up before my medical.
Thanks!
I've booked my class 1 for the beginning of July, its not with the CAA, but any info about it would be good! I know whats involved (EEG,ECG etc etc) but is there any advice that would be usuful for it? I've got a bastard of a cold at the moment but it should clear up before my medical.
Thanks!
Joined: May 2003
Aviation Qualifications: Aircrew (non-pilot)
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: Ireland
Best advice, be well rested. A lot of the conversation will be geared to determining your lifestyle, which gives clues what to look for. Best of luck.
BTW my doc is more practical, he just give me the little test stick and tells me to take it out the back and pee on it!
BTW my doc is more practical, he just give me the little test stick and tells me to take it out the back and pee on it!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 900
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From: Surrey
Thanks for the help ppl. I'll try and stay relaxed. I've been a student for the past 5 years so am not hugely health (diet and exercise could def be improved) but I don't think theres anything wrong with me.
I tried to test my hearing with a home audiometry thing and it is abit vague about my levels, but sayin that its not a very quiet enviroment and the program calibration is probably dodgy too!
Ah well. 1 and half weeks to go!
I tried to test my hearing with a home audiometry thing and it is abit vague about my levels, but sayin that its not a very quiet enviroment and the program calibration is probably dodgy too!
Ah well. 1 and half weeks to go!
Joined: May 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 98
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From: Portugal
Blinkz,
Had my Initial Class 1 on Tuesday and passed!
To give you some details as to what to expect. This may differ as in the UK initial class 1 issues have to be done at Aviation House down at LGW. I went through it in the following order:
1) Eye test. I was due to have this done first due to my bad eye sight. This, for me, was fairly intensive similar to an eye test done at your local Specsavers.
2) Pee test. Guess they'll tell you if something's out of the ordinary
3) Hearing test. This is in two parts with a sound booth type check and also another check for your ear drumb. Once again, pretty straight forward.
4) ECG. This for me was done at rest lying on a bed. I do know that some of the more senior people get to do a stress ECG. All it really is is about 12 sensors placed at various locations on your body and you have to breathe normally for a couple of minutes why they take the readings.
5) Lung capacity. This involves blowing into a tube to measure the capacity and also the force. I'm an ex smoker and got through this fine
6) Blood check. This is for colesterol and another check which has slipped my mind. This is the pin prick type and pretty harmless
7) Doctor inspection. Chest, joints etc etc.... Just like a checkout from your GP
8) Chest x-ray.
9) Finally the EEG. This to me was the most worrying as it will show any tendancy for epilepsy even if you have never had a fit. Probably one of the longest ones due to the time it takes to attach the sensors to your scalp. You then sit in a darkened room and breathe normally with your eye's open and closed. You then do a rapid breathing check for 3 minutes and then the worst for me, is the srobe light. The stobe is placed about a foot from your eye's and you have to look at the light for about 5-10 sec and then close your eye's. This is repeated about 6 more times with the light at various speeds. I guess is nothing to worry about if you can happily spend a Friday or Sat night down your local club or get through those films where they warn you of stobe lighting.
Hope that gives you some idea as to what to expect. Its not as bad as you think and I wish you all the best Blinkz!
Splashdown
Had my Initial Class 1 on Tuesday and passed!
To give you some details as to what to expect. This may differ as in the UK initial class 1 issues have to be done at Aviation House down at LGW. I went through it in the following order:
1) Eye test. I was due to have this done first due to my bad eye sight. This, for me, was fairly intensive similar to an eye test done at your local Specsavers.
2) Pee test. Guess they'll tell you if something's out of the ordinary
3) Hearing test. This is in two parts with a sound booth type check and also another check for your ear drumb. Once again, pretty straight forward.
4) ECG. This for me was done at rest lying on a bed. I do know that some of the more senior people get to do a stress ECG. All it really is is about 12 sensors placed at various locations on your body and you have to breathe normally for a couple of minutes why they take the readings.
5) Lung capacity. This involves blowing into a tube to measure the capacity and also the force. I'm an ex smoker and got through this fine
6) Blood check. This is for colesterol and another check which has slipped my mind. This is the pin prick type and pretty harmless
7) Doctor inspection. Chest, joints etc etc.... Just like a checkout from your GP
8) Chest x-ray.
9) Finally the EEG. This to me was the most worrying as it will show any tendancy for epilepsy even if you have never had a fit. Probably one of the longest ones due to the time it takes to attach the sensors to your scalp. You then sit in a darkened room and breathe normally with your eye's open and closed. You then do a rapid breathing check for 3 minutes and then the worst for me, is the srobe light. The stobe is placed about a foot from your eye's and you have to look at the light for about 5-10 sec and then close your eye's. This is repeated about 6 more times with the light at various speeds. I guess is nothing to worry about if you can happily spend a Friday or Sat night down your local club or get through those films where they warn you of stobe lighting.
Hope that gives you some idea as to what to expect. Its not as bad as you think and I wish you all the best Blinkz!
Splashdown
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk
Blinkz
From what I can gather many of the staff in the Aeromedical Centre are themselves pilots. There sees to be a genuine desire to encourage you and for you to succeed.
Make sure you are rested, as has been said. No playing computer games, reading or staring at a screen for long hours in the 48 hours before the examination. Make sure your eyes are really rested. If you have any concern about eyesight then they will do that part of the test first so that if you do fail you only get charged about £40 and the rest is refunded. If you have any concerns as to hearing then use that stuff Boots sell to clear out you ears.
I also suggest staying off large amounts of alcohol in the days before the test and not to much caffeen, as this can affect the heart rate though I don't think it can actually generate any abnormality in a short space of time.
Try not to drive yourself there: sometimes the optometerist uses drops to dilate the pupils which will affect vision for 4-5 hours at least.
Finally - good luck
From what I can gather many of the staff in the Aeromedical Centre are themselves pilots. There sees to be a genuine desire to encourage you and for you to succeed.
Make sure you are rested, as has been said. No playing computer games, reading or staring at a screen for long hours in the 48 hours before the examination. Make sure your eyes are really rested. If you have any concern about eyesight then they will do that part of the test first so that if you do fail you only get charged about £40 and the rest is refunded. If you have any concerns as to hearing then use that stuff Boots sell to clear out you ears.
I also suggest staying off large amounts of alcohol in the days before the test and not to much caffeen, as this can affect the heart rate though I don't think it can actually generate any abnormality in a short space of time.
Try not to drive yourself there: sometimes the optometerist uses drops to dilate the pupils which will affect vision for 4-5 hours at least.
Finally - good luck
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Near NEMA
I broke the rules as far the eye test is concerned. Their letter said we MAY use eye drops etc etc. So I took the chance that they wouldn't. Sod's law, they did, which made my EEG very painful flashing strobe, dilated pupils and high intensity light don't mix. Also I couldn't focus and had great difficulty in signing the bits of paper they put in front of me. Had to sit in the car for two hours before I could drive home, I waited till I could read the number plates in the car park. Still I passed.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Norwich
Sounds fu*king awful. Im going down for my initial class one next week. I really get stressed out over doctors, always have. This messes up my blood pressure reading and my heart rate. I did an RAF medical twice and my blood pressure was very high and heart rate 110+ resting. lol
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 102
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From: South UK
Mooney, there's absolutely nothing to worry about.They're there to pass you, not fail you. Your raised blood pressure / heart rate during examination isn't uncommon. Thinks its known as'white coat hypertension'. Just chill!....easier said than done I know
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 310
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From: U and K
I have to do a Class 1 renewal at Gatwick soon, could anyone tell me what is involved and roughly how long it takes (and how much), as I need to fly there especially for this and wanted to book my flights up!
Thanks
ABO
Thanks
ABO
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 900
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From: Surrey
The only bit I'm worried about is the hearing test. I know my eyesight is well within the limits, I'm just not 100% sure on the hearing. Damn that home test for instilling doubt!!!! 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 799
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From: Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk
a Class 1 renewal at Gatwick
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: U and K
Justicular---
It needs to be done there, as Im transfering it from another member state Class 1 !!!
It will be my first re-newal, so wondered what is done (im 27) and how long it takes ... and the all important cost!??
Thanks
ABO
It needs to be done there, as Im transfering it from another member state Class 1 !!!
It will be my first re-newal, so wondered what is done (im 27) and how long it takes ... and the all important cost!??
Thanks
ABO
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Pembrokeshire
Hi Guys,
Good to hear that they like to pass people over there! I too have a medical booked for September. It's an initial one so it will be the full works.
I have a problem with one ear, and was wondering if anyone who has recently sat the test has any first hand knowledge of what to expect in the audiogram. Are you able to see the nurse working the controls or are you sealed off and unaware of anything going on?
Many thanks,
Captain McDuff - Oh Yeah!
Good to hear that they like to pass people over there! I too have a medical booked for September. It's an initial one so it will be the full works.
I have a problem with one ear, and was wondering if anyone who has recently sat the test has any first hand knowledge of what to expect in the audiogram. Are you able to see the nurse working the controls or are you sealed off and unaware of anything going on?
Many thanks,
Captain McDuff - Oh Yeah!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: UK
For the hearing test you are sat in a soundproof booth with a headset on. You can see the operator through a little window but you can't really work out what they are doing. If you try to second guess what they are doing they will soon find you out. I found it easier to look ahead and just listen very carefully.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 662
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From: UAE
I wasn’t to stressed by the tests but I was concerned with my eyesight, all OK for now, but I am aware its slowly getting worse which is a huge concern for me!
Aside from all that though the worst part of the test for me was when the doctor looks lovingly into your eyes and says, "cough"
Also look Here for a detailed explanation of what goes on.
Aside from all that though the worst part of the test for me was when the doctor looks lovingly into your eyes and says, "cough"
Also look Here for a detailed explanation of what goes on.
Last edited by YYZ; 1st July 2004 at 10:15.
