Help! Will I Ever Live My Dream

[Batfink58]

Hi,

Please can anyone help and give me some advise.

I have a problem with regards to the eysight requirements of the JAA Class 1 Medical.
I am 30 years old and hold a PPL, my passion is flying and it would be a dream come true if I could work towards a flying career.....if only.

The CAA website quotes that the eye sight correction limits for an initial class 1 are +/- 5 diopters, my prescription is -6 diopters!!!
I have been gutted since I realised that I would not be able to gain a class 1 due to my eye sight.

Is there any way I can get round this, am I doomed to a life of looking up at the sky and thinking "I wish......"?
Is there any hope?

Any advise anyone can give will be much appreciated.

Batfink58

[PhilM]

Speak with the CAA mate, I have heard that on occasion they grant a Deferred Class1 medical.

I believe if you meet the renewal standards they may consider it, and upon completing ATPL training they will issue a proper Class1.

PS, your not the same BatFink that uses the Air Cadet Central forums are you?

[Irishwingz]

Quite right. Quit crying and do some searching on this forum under deviations - I believe its possible for you to get a class 1 as you are within renewal limits you lucky sod

The UK CAA are the only ones who do this, they are a great bunch who will try and help you if they can. If I was you I'd set up an appointment with the optometrist at Gatwick asap.

I'm 30 and have got a PPL but my prescription is +5.50 so no luck for me as the renewal is also +5.00

Follow your dream fella.....

[Batfink58]

PhilM, Irishwingz,

Well, what can I say, you guys have made my day and given me a glimmer of hope. I'm not familier with the deviation / deferred class1 , beleive me I'll be on the phone to Gatwick first thing Monday morning.

Irishwingz, very sorry to hear about your eyesight issue, its a real shame that the CAA don't adopt the same approch to eyesight requirements as the FAA do.

If anyone else has any more info / advise on my problem then please please please let me know.

PhilM, Irishwingz, thanks again gents.

Batfink58
PS PhilM, I'm not the same Batfink, I've never used the Air Cadet Central forum??

[Malta_Flyer]

what did the caa tell you? im in your exact same condition!

[Batfink58]

Called the CAA first thing this morning and spoke to an advisor. They have asked me to obtain an up-to date optometrist report. I mentioned the deviation route and the very helpfull lady aknowledged that this route may be possible depending on my report.

I will be seeing my optometrist tomorrow afternoon and will then post to the CAA.

Wish me luck!!

Will let you know what happens.

[angelofthesky]

I went down exactly the same route. I sent in my eye prescription as requested for the last three years (they are looking for stability).
The CAA then rang and said i meet the requirements for renewal standard and invited me to make an appointment for a class one medical.
As expected i didn't make the initial standards, however they said on completion of a ppl we will grant you a class one with a deviation and on completion of your cpl will lift this deviation to a unrestricted class one provided my sight remains under -8.00 dioptres i am - 3.75 in my right eye and - 5.75 in my left above initial but within renewal.

[Batfink58]

Angelofthesky, Thanks for sharing your experience with me, it gives me hope that you got through ok. I'm still bit worried though since my eyes are worse then yours.

Got my opticians report today, I am:

Right eye -6.25
Left eye -6.75

Slight astigmatisem in left eye of 1 diopter

V/A corrected
Left 6/5
Right 6/5
Both 6/5

V/A uncorrected
Left 6/120
Right 6/120
Both 6/120
(Blind as a bat)

Will be posting these off to the CAA, I hope I make it and they give me a deviation, or what ever it is.
Think I'll be going through some sleepless nights whilst the verdict is out!!

If the numbers above mean anything to anyone, then please put me out of my misery and tell me what you think.

Batfink58

[Audio]

if im right in thinking i belive the 6/5 means you can see at 6 meeters what a normal person can see at 5.

so with the 6/120 you can see at 6 meeters what a normal person can see at 120.

someone correct my if im wrong.

[HairyYellowButt]

Batfink58, even if they say you're as blind as a bat, don't let them put you off. Keep fighting for your Class 1 , it's a fantastic career. Best of luck.

[Batfink58]

I'm not sure what all the numbers actually mean or what they stand for, but the optican said that with correction I can see better then the standard required (6/6). The problem for me is the level of correction required to get there.
Posted the report to the CAA last Wednesday, waiting for a reply Fingers crossed

Hey, HairyYellow, thanks for your support, your words have cheered me up

[PhilM]

Any news mate? .....fingers still crossed for you

[Batfink58]

PHILM thanks for your support.

Still not heard from the gods in Aviation House. Its been two weeks since I sent my eye report.

I'll give it a couple more days, if no reply will give them a ring.

Batfink58 (with crossed wings)

[PRNAV1]

This is exactly the case with a friend of mine!

He was -7! he held and FAA CPL but wanted or more like needed JAA to go on and persue his dream.
Took his class one with the boys at CAA and they sorted. he got his medical no probs.

just your luck i guess, right time, right place.

good luck mate...

[Ridgerunner]

www.rebuildyourvision.com

Improved my vision from 1.75 down to 0.50 while I did the exercises, but deteriorated when I didn't do them for a few weeks. Might be worth a look.

[CarltonBrowne the FO]

I've known a few guys who have had their eyes lasered to get them within the limits for a class 1; after the operation, the CAA has required them to wait a while (I think 6 months) and if there is no adverse reaction, they have then issued a medical. The trouble with this route is, you are even worse off if anything goes wrong.

[PhilM]

I've known a few guys who have had their eyes lasered to get them within the limits for a class 1; after the operation, the CAA has required them to wait a while (I think 6 months) and if there is no adverse reaction, they have then issued a medical. The trouble with this route is, you are even worse off if anything goes wrong.

Sorry to hijack your thread batfink! Mate.....are you serious? My eyes were outside the limits for Class1 pre-LASIK, now I am -0.5D, so well within limits. I thought the CAA would not issue if you were outside the limits pre-op.

Seems a VERY stupid rule to me, basing things on what you "were". Not like glasses, my LASIK can't fall off midflight! Only thing I do acknowledge is an increased risk of retinal detachement. Have had no adverse reaction in 3years

Any more info on this? If thats correct, I'm well within limits, and will be shortly speeding down the M4 towards Gatwick

[Batfink58]

Re: Help! Will I Ever Live My Dream

I've been looking (pardon the punn) in to LASIK for some time but have been put off by the very clear statement on the CAA's website

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...isual_Stds.pdf

Whats going on??? Is it accepted then or is it not accepted? or is it just a matter of which way the wind is blowing on the day of the test!!!

Anyway, I've still not heard from the CAA

Happy New Year to you all.

[Non Normal]

Re: Help! Will I Ever Live My Dream

Batfink58,

Essentially, what that document is saying is that you would only be certified if your pre-op eyesight was max +/-5.0 dioptres, and that even if your eyesight is brought within +/-5.0 dioptres through surgery, you won't be able to get certified, if your pre-op eyesight was over +/-5.0.

As others have said, telephone CAA and discuss the matter. Also, there were some suggestions about getting some kind of "deviation" to the rule. I don't know the ins and outs of it, but if you do a search, you will find some in-depth discussion of deviations etc.

[Batfink58]

Positive answer from CAA

Well, thought I'd give you all an update on my situation.

So far so good, the CAA asked me to supply them with my current prescription and also proof of stability over the last three years. I sent the required docs to them and received a call from the CAA saying that I can go ahead and book in for a medical down at Gatwick. What a relief, I am so pleased.

It's true what people have said on here, the people in Gatwick are very nice and are very helpful.

On to the next step of climbing this mother of a mountain!! Now fingers crossed that I pass the medical, now I'm stressing about that

Thanks again for the support fellow prunners., will let you know what how it goes.