Problem
 

Dear fellow PPRuNers,

I am in a bit of quandary at the moment and was wondering if some of you could give me some advice.
I am 19 and am about to embark on my first year at Oxford University to study Music. I have been myopic for about 5 years now and at my last eye test my prescription had fallen to -3.75D.
Even though I am a very keen musician (hense the degree;) ), I have always been totally set on becoming a pilot and watching the gradual decline of my eyesight has made me increasingly worried about whether I will one day slip pass the infamous -5D limit for the class 1 medical.
What I was wondering was whether or not you would think it advisable for me to take the medical now before i reach the initial limit baring in mind that I wont be able to do any significant flying for the next 3 years.

I was also wondering how the revalidation process works. If I were to take the medical now (and pass), would I have to keep revalidating it each year so as to qualify for the -8D limit or, if I were to go back after three years having not been keeping it current would I have to take an initial again and hense return to the -5 limit which I could well have passed by that stage?

I hope that wasn't confusing!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Captain111.

No guarantees but if you are nineteen and have -3.75D it is not so likely that you will get a lot worse over the years.

Have your prescriptions changed a lot over the last 3-4 years?

Whether you want to take the risk is of course entirely up to you.

FD

Stick to music
 

If I were you young man I would stick to the music, it is much more enjoyable, more relaxing and many many more people will enjoy your performances.

Captain111,

My advice to you would be:

1. Consider what your musical aspirations are - performing, teaching, music journalism, or is it that you are simply a keen musician who feels that a music degree, although not necessarily an easy option, represents the line of least resistance. If it is performance, unless you are exceptionally gifted, you need to be applying for a specialist conservatoire such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music etc. These establishments are geared towards preparing for high level professional performance - repertoire is learnt, and it is where those vital contacts are made. From your comments I suspect that you would prefer to be flying aircraft rather than performing......

2. If you only want to fly, get your eyes tested, preferably by a CAA approved examiner, to see if they reach the standard required for the initial class 1 medical.

3. If they do and your eyesight is likely to remain constant, rather than spend 3 years building up a rather large student debt on a music degree, albeit at a fine university, invest that money in your future. Whilst mercenaryali is quite right that music does bring enjoyment to many people, there are more pilot vancancies than orchestral musician vacancies. The financial rewards for musicians are very modest with orchestral salaries not exceeding £30-35k.

4. As for music being less stressful - that may be the perception for the layperson, certainly not the opinion of the majority of performers. I personally know of a musician who finding the day to day grind of orchestral life too stressful, sold his house, did his CPL/IR etc, and is now an airline captain. It takes a huge amount of effort firstly to attain the professional musical standard, and then to maintain it in your own time on top of a busy schedule. You need some time for your own life!

5. I am not saying flying is an easy option, far from it! Just pointing some facts from the point of view of someone with an in-depth knowledge of the music industry.

6. Hope this helps. It is better to give it your best shot now rather than regret not trying later in life. You could always defer your place at uni with a view to attending later.