How strict are the caa initial medicals?
PPRuNe Handmaiden
You could have a look at JAR FCL 3 on the JAA website for a full break down on the medical. You could have a look in the CAA website as well.
I have very mild asthmatic tendencies and I get through the Class 1 ok. I don't know what level of asthma you have so it's hard to give advice. If you are asthmatic then expect to have to go for a jog or something like that to see if your lung function is impaired in any way.
I have very mild asthmatic tendencies and I get through the Class 1 ok. I don't know what level of asthma you have so it's hard to give advice. If you are asthmatic then expect to have to go for a jog or something like that to see if your lung function is impaired in any way.
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hi
Hoe bad is your asthma? All depends what you get ont he peak flow test really? obviosly if you have random asthmatic attacks then the chances of you passing are less than if you dont really have attacks but use an inhaler for a wheezy chest etc. contact the caa and see what the peak flow requirements are, then go to your doctor and get him to check what yours is. this is clearly the best way to tell before spending any money.
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As others have said it would be wise to look at their website for information. In fairness it has to be said that the medical standards are fairly strict as indeed you would expect them to be.
It is clearly not acceptable to certificate a pilot to fly in a public transport environment if they have medical conditions that are likely to present a hazard to that operation or to themselves. On the other hand Pilots are expected to be reasonably fit with levels of acceptance that may allow for natural deterioration with advancing age. In assessing a potential pilots fitness to hold a class 1 medical the authority needs to balance not only what is fair to the candidate, but also what is fair to the potential employer and the public in general.
The currency of medical certificates ranges from 6 months to 12 months in this category. Each current certificate holder must then resubmit to a medical renewal. The renewal examination is less intense than the initial test, but it nevertheless requires achieving an acceptable level of fitness in various categories. At various time and age points, additional tests are also carried out.
Certainly in the UK and probably in other countries as well the authority tries hard to ensure that, where possible pilots retain their medical certificates when problems do arise. For this reason it is important that the initial certification does not simply allow a candidate to be passed with a condition that in all reasonable likelyhood will result in their losing the certificate in a short timescale.
If you search through this forum, you will find that there are many borderline situations that can be overcome, and others that cannot. Sometimes it can be a shock for an individual to be told of a condition that they were previously unaware of. It is always dissapointing when an ambition is thwarted by a situation that someone may have no control over. On the other hand if you are aware of a condition you have, you can always ask yourself how you would feel if you were on a flight and both pilots were to succumb to the worst effects of such a condition.
The point I am trying to make, is that the standard is there for a reason. There can never be a guarantee that a seemingly fit pilot will not succumb to incapacity at some point in their career, but there is a clear mandate on the medical authority to attempt to minimize that risk.
Again the most sensible thing to do before you invest any serious money in this occupation, is to obtain the medical certificate, and any advice from the competent authorities that you need.
It is clearly not acceptable to certificate a pilot to fly in a public transport environment if they have medical conditions that are likely to present a hazard to that operation or to themselves. On the other hand Pilots are expected to be reasonably fit with levels of acceptance that may allow for natural deterioration with advancing age. In assessing a potential pilots fitness to hold a class 1 medical the authority needs to balance not only what is fair to the candidate, but also what is fair to the potential employer and the public in general.
The currency of medical certificates ranges from 6 months to 12 months in this category. Each current certificate holder must then resubmit to a medical renewal. The renewal examination is less intense than the initial test, but it nevertheless requires achieving an acceptable level of fitness in various categories. At various time and age points, additional tests are also carried out.
Certainly in the UK and probably in other countries as well the authority tries hard to ensure that, where possible pilots retain their medical certificates when problems do arise. For this reason it is important that the initial certification does not simply allow a candidate to be passed with a condition that in all reasonable likelyhood will result in their losing the certificate in a short timescale.
If you search through this forum, you will find that there are many borderline situations that can be overcome, and others that cannot. Sometimes it can be a shock for an individual to be told of a condition that they were previously unaware of. It is always dissapointing when an ambition is thwarted by a situation that someone may have no control over. On the other hand if you are aware of a condition you have, you can always ask yourself how you would feel if you were on a flight and both pilots were to succumb to the worst effects of such a condition.
The point I am trying to make, is that the standard is there for a reason. There can never be a guarantee that a seemingly fit pilot will not succumb to incapacity at some point in their career, but there is a clear mandate on the medical authority to attempt to minimize that risk.
Again the most sensible thing to do before you invest any serious money in this occupation, is to obtain the medical certificate, and any advice from the competent authorities that you need.
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Hi sharman_uk,
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to write to the CAA, give them all the details of your condition and ask them yourself! I did this with a medical worry I had prior to going for my Class One and they sent a detailed letter back- fortunately it was no problem but it was good to know this before I forked out £400 for the full check up, and also gave me one less thing to worry about on the day! Make sure you given them as much information as possible, otherwise they'll just end up writing to you asking for more details.
I think there's an e-mail address on their website, but make sure you include your postal address if you send them an e-mail because they won't e-mail you back, they need to post your reply. Also it might take a while, my advice took about a month to arrive.
Eurotraveller
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to write to the CAA, give them all the details of your condition and ask them yourself! I did this with a medical worry I had prior to going for my Class One and they sent a detailed letter back- fortunately it was no problem but it was good to know this before I forked out £400 for the full check up, and also gave me one less thing to worry about on the day! Make sure you given them as much information as possible, otherwise they'll just end up writing to you asking for more details.
I think there's an e-mail address on their website, but make sure you include your postal address if you send them an e-mail because they won't e-mail you back, they need to post your reply. Also it might take a while, my advice took about a month to arrive.
Eurotraveller
