New medical rules for NPPL/PPL

[divy600]

Thanks "topoverhaul" your summary really clarifies the problem well.
It is to be hoped that the CAA will issue AME's with some guidance enabling them to use their discretion and judgement, when faced with us pilots who are now effectively "grounded".

[sunday driver]

I have a UK PPL and an EASA PPL
My medical has lapsed by a few weeks.
I have never had significant surgery (except appendix about 4 years ago).
I am required to have "24hour Holter" results reviewed by the CAA as well. (this is effectively a 24 hour ECG recorder)
Reason? My (lovely and well qualified) AME failed his 'medical' and my personal records were reviewed.
The next nearest AME who performed my subsequent and latest medical renewal has since retired.
As a result of the CAA's simplifications, I am now seriously confused, so I consulted the CAA website for clarification.
Here's what I have to exceed (I think) ... Guidance for medical certification of private pilots | UK Civil Aviation Authority
While I understand the need for a clear definition of the medical requirements for AMEs, there is also a need for lay guidance for non-medically qualified PPL candidates. Would also be nice if the hurdles for Class 1 and Class 2 were shown separately.
I don't expect answers here, maybe a sympathetic pat on the head?

SD

[Lodems]

NPPL medicals

As expected the CAA confirmed to me today that I am grounded until I obtain a LAPL.
There was however a small glimmer of hope in their reply: 'they are in discussions with the BMAA/LAA to ascertain the numbers involved' and members should contact them.Somewhat belated discussions,one might say.

[buggies]

Basic question

I filled in the form and submitted it (three times as no acknowledgement that it had worked) and received two emails later saying "Thank you for your application." with an attached pdf copy of the form.
My kinda thick question is - is that all there is? Can I just stuff these three pages in my licence and fly, or was it really just an "application" and I have to wait for something else to arrive?

[divy600]

As the LAA were the administrators of the NPPL medical declaration, I would have thought the number of pilots affected by these new rules could have been obtained during the consultation period.
On another tack, just found CAP1441 on the CAA website, what happens after 8th April 2018?, cannot make sense of it!

[Arclite01]

Unrelated to all this medical stuff............

I tried to fill in my declaration online and submit it (using Internet Explorer as requested by the site) but I keep getting an error message when I submit my form saying that the CAA will be notified.

I've tried 3 times - same problem. Anyone else had this issue ?? - I'm not sure whether I've successfully submitted it or not !!, I've not had any email response confirming it (or not)

Thanks

Arc

[Arclite01]

fixed already !!

[Lodems]

NPPL medicals

Have just had clarification from the CAA that under UK law the LAPL medical certificate validates the NPPL, so there's no need to apply for the actual LAPL(unless you want to fly EASA a/c after 2018). My AME wasn't aware of this and the form he fills in doesn't seem to mention it either, so there's still some confusion in the camp.

[Curlytips]

Costs of Class 2?

Slight thread drift, but just discovered my Gatwick AME has hiked prices by 50%. What does the team think/pay for their EASA Class 2? And for ECG?

Advice appreciated....... (NPPL option not an option, as IR (R) in regular use......

[OpenCirrus619]

The guy I used last time charges £110-165 for a Class II (depending on what you need).

Have no idea if this is more, or less, that you pay.

I did my last (Class 1) with him - no complaints:
Mach Med | Aviation Medicals

OC619

Mods: If the link breaks some rule, or other, then please remove it. I, honestly, have no connection with the business - beyond having my medicals there.

[Curlytips]

Thanks OpenCirrus. Certainly better value and closer to home. Sounds about right, but would appreciate any other comments or recommendations in Kent!

[OpenCirrus619]

Other AMEs in Kent: AME Search Results

I don't have any info on them - I'm sure others will have views.

OC619

[Hants Eaglet]

It seems to me that for most older NPPLs the licence was welcome in that the reduced medical criteria enabled those who would have been grounded following certain illnesses were able to carry on with acceptable limitations. I reckon the vast majority only got a NPPL for this reason. The NPPL medical rules were eminently sensible as your own GP has a far better take on your current health than a remote AME who sees you infrequently and has no ongoing access to your medical records. Indeed that was one of the main selling points as a replacement for the largely meaningless class 2 examination which is like an MOT and only covers your condition on the day. It looks like the NPPL medical type model will be repeated in the USA soon too for regular PPLs.

So the ill thought out revisions will likely ground an awful lot of us older pilots for absolutely no valid medical reason, creating untold stress, misery and denying the GA industry of a large revenue source - after all we are the ones with the reserves of disposable income - as long as we managed our pensions well!

Rather than encouraging GA it looks to me that the CAA, whilst paying lip service to releasing the shackles, have decided that they went too far and now want to put the claws back in, probably as the AMEs could see a big reduction in potential income. As usual all this only comes to light after the thing is introduced, we all having been tantalised by the false promise of simplification and "good news" ahead.

It stinks. The LAA should be ashamed of themselves in signing this debacle off and it proves that certain elements in the CAA as well as being either ignorant or incompetent don't understand GA at all. I speak as an ex employee myself, so am not proud.

[divy600]

Had another look at the consultation CAP1284. - "Hants Eaglet", you are spot on!
Out of the stated 8000+ NPPL holders there must be plenty who are affected by all this, so please CAA (and LAA!), get on with a serious re-think, because you have caused unnecessary anxiety and expense, not to mention missing out on good flying weather.

[Lodems]

NPPL medicals

We are drifting a bit off-thread, but I paid £185 for a LAPL/NPPL medical this week- that included an ECG. Most of us with previous heart history will probably have to do one, as that's why we are at the AME's in the first place.He said it would be cheaper next time. I shall try to console myself with 12 years of free certificates from my generous GP and not feel jealous of my friends who can now self-certify for nowt.

[divy600]

Still not right though, have we been duped?

[Broadlands]

New problem for the medical declaration -

We have been advised to check with the club insurers because some are refusing to cover pilots who self declare. I'm not yet sure what our own status is yet, or which companies are making this policy.

[BEagle]

I also gather that some clubs are refusing to hire aircraft to pilots who do not hold either NPPL medical declarations or Part-MED medical certificates....

[Lodems]

Change to NPPL medical rules

When I kicked off this thread a month or so ago I had a feeling I would be one of the first to be caught by the new self-certification'guidance' notes. I'm now the grateful holder of a LAPL medical certificate, so a couple of points on my experience of getting it might help some of you fellow unfortunates.
If you've had surgery a long time ago (20 years for me) you may find you have to provide proof of tests carried out directly after the operation. I had to organise a new private echocardiogram (£221) because neither my GP nor the hospital had copies that old. Secondly the CAA computer has a very long memory. In my case in 1995 it designated me as 'long term unfit with no prospect of improvement' and put up a large "computer says NO" warning so that any AME trying to enter new medical details was locked out. My subsequent very successful surgery was not registered there because I didn't feel it necessary to tell them, as I had no intention of flying commercially again. The NPPL GP certification procedure some years later got me back into powered flight but by then the CAA had lost interest in me (but not so their computer...)
Fortunately my AME finally found a human(?) to speak to and I was re-designated 'temporarily unfit' so that I could then be re-classified as 'fit'.
I would advise anyone who is going to try to enter this minefield that they allow plenty of time to tick all the boxes. Best of luck! Off now to apply for a LAPL.

[Heston]

They've sorted it.

New form now issued - if you're fit to drive you can fly up to 2000kgs. Thanks to those involved for getting it resolved.

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalap...e=form&id=7493