Thanks Blackshirt for brightening up my dull afternoon ! Put very eloquently I thought ! Your comment made me laugh - not a pleasant experience that one. And the old chap didn't even wear gloves !??! Work that one out..... Anyway, reason I replied was to say I hope I didn't induce panic with my post with a daunting list of what they do. I was just being informative because it sounds completely different (more stringent anyway) to what our American chums have to go through. Don't panic !! I too ( along with many )enjoy the odd vice every now and again and still managed it. For God's sake don't become a reclusive monk wannabe.

NB.

[ 24 July 2001: Message edited by: NewBloke ]

Bit of a pi$$er that the FAA one costs $65 and the CAA charge you £400. Yes, you read that right my American chums, nearly six hundred of your dollars.

FAA is general exam, drop 'n' cough, ears, eyes and pee in a pot.

CAA is all that plus blood test, EEG (Electro-encephalogram) and ECG (Electro-cardiogram; what they call an EKG in the States) Takes best part of a day, but no big deal if you're generally health. EEG checks for epilepsy, but when I asked, they said they v seldom find evidence in someone who's not symptomatic (but there are of course people who suspect they're epileptic but tell no-one in case they lose their drivers licence etc.) If you know you're healthy, you'll have no problem at all.

And no, they FAA and CAA certs aren't interchangeable. Now how did you know I was gonna say that?

WGW

Ooh, forgot about the chest x-ray and lung function. Not so bad see for you 400 quid. Bargain.

All those psychedelic colours when they flash that strobe at you with your eyes closed. :eek: :eek: :eek: NB, you know what I'm talking about...

WGW

Certainly do..... that was weird. Thought I was gonna pass-out when that woman made me hyper-ventilate !! Mind you, she was a lovely looking lass when I went there. That's something to look forward to I suppose (If you are a bloke of course). ;)

One of the big differences between the UK and the US on charges and fees for aviation is that the US government subsidises the FAA massively from taxpayers' money, while ours insists that the CAA gets all its funds from its charges and licences fees.

When you get to Aviation House, have a look around at their state-of-the-art offices and have a meal in the cheap, nice restaurant on the top floor, and you'll soon realise why medicals and licences cost so damn much in this country.

Not a complaint, just a comment, and an off topic at that:

As a displaced Briton living in the US of A, it always amazed me that government intervention and subsidies of things in general does not seem to go down well. Look at Dubya's tax cut - instead of using that money for something that might be longer lasting, individuals get $300 back to spend... The bright side is that $300 worth of flying though.
Instead of a single digital mobile phone standard in the US, there are at least four - all of which are incompatible - because the FCC "believes in market forces". Yet in European counties and most of the world, GSM rules and handsets and airtime are cheap and ubiquitous.

Yet when it comes to the FAA and airports, the situation is very happy here compared to what I read about the UK and the rest of Europe, due to the fact that there is a certain amount of taxpayer money that funds them. I assume that the proportion is far higher than elsewhere.

When I flew in the Netherlands recently, people here couldn't believe that I had to pay landing fees in the Piper Archer I rented.

Could someone please explain this. Why did the CAA initial class 1 cost £200 a few years ago, and now under the JAA it costs £400?!

I asked this out of curiosity and the reply was "...err...the cost of this new equipment, and extra tests".... I know...makes you laugh. I reckon it's probably the cost of the extra 'consultants' required to check over the results etc... They tend to charge a fortune.

NB

JAR Medical required for Skill Test
 

Hi,

Is a JAR-FCL Class 2 medical required to take the skill test for a JAA PPL?

I understand one is needed as an applicant for a PPL but what's not clear to me if it's needed for the skill test.

I ask as I intend to take the skill test in the US and I know of no JAA medical examiners on the west coast.

Thanks

As far as I know a Class 2 medical is required to go solo and therefore before doing your skills test!!!

I was told by the CAA that I could continue to use my old CAA class 3 medical, as long as I had a JAA class 2 when I actually sent all of my stuff off when I applied for the licence. But don`t quote me on it! You know how often they change their minds.....!

Thanks for the replies.

Tarmach, my aplogies for not making myself clear.

I'm doing the JAA skill test in the USA and I won't be able to get a JAA medical until I return to the UK in a few months, hence my question.

A US medical is required to fly solo in the US - same rules as UK.

Anawan.... I've now heard from another source that, as you say, you only need the JAA class 2 on application.

I believe it is.

I can tell you that as of a few weeks ago, they are no longer allowing people who hold UK Class 3's but are still under training for their PPL, to fly solo until they've done a JAR class 2. It caught out an older student at my school who seems to be having trouble passing a JAR medical (even though he holds a UK one and has quite a few hours of solo), he can't finish his PPL now until it gets sorted.

Yet another case of the almighty JAA sticking it to another aspiring pilot, that's a surprise ... :rolleyes:

Luke,

Am I right in thinking if you have a PPL and a CAA class 3 medical (which hasnt expired yet) you can still fly legally without a JAA Class 2 med?

cheers

Tarmach

CAA Class 1 medical???
 

Hi everyone,
After having posted a message about getting my PPL at Prestwick or Glasgow, I have come to the decision of prestwick. However, seen as I want to be a commericial pilot in the near future, I guess it would be worth it just to fork out for a Class 1 rather than a Class 2. However, I have read the information on the CAA website. I was wondering if someone who has done it recently, could tell me exactly what it is like! Is it a nightmare? Do they trully make you run around the building or on a treadmill? What exactly does the Physical involve? Anyway I am about to have my first ever flying lesson next weekend, so I am completely looking forward to it. I was sitting in the cockpit of the Cherokee yesterday and we sat and watched as a Boeing 747 (Polar Air) took off literally 30m away from us. Incredible! Anyway any help would be great guys. I did try searching for topics but it never ever seems to work, so i thought I would post a message.

Happy Flying
Rossco

Rossco, good luck with your first ever lesson. It'll take you a while to pull yourself off the ceiling afterwards!
With regards to the medical, if you're serious about going commercial then go for your Class 1. I know it's 'slightly' more expensive but at least you'll know straightaway whether you can make it medically as a commercial pilot. When I was asking myself the exact same question 16 months ago I found the Medical forum most informative. Try asking your question again in there.

Good luck!

MB

Well this is basically all there is to a Class 1 -

EGG - (electrocardiogram) lie on the bed, they stick pads to your chest, connect it to a monitor, check your heartbeat .Doesn't hurt unless you have a hairy chest.

EEG - (electroencephalogram) they stick things on your head connect you to a monitor, flash a light in your face to find out if you will have a fit - nice!

**** in a pot - to check for blood sugar level/diabetes

Prick you on the finger for blood - check for cholesterol, anaemia

Chest X Ray - looking at heart outline and lungs (field clear & expanded)

Audiogram - sit in a box, wave your arm around checking you can move your arm - no not really - its a hearing test.

Spirometry - blowing really hard into a tube/machine thing - looking at lung capacity

Eyesight test - by optometrist full eye test including colour vision and the eye pressure test - beautiful thing that fires an air jet into your eye - my fav !!

Full physical - by doctor (apparently). Makes sure you can bend those limbs, touch the toes, hits the knees with those sticks with a rubber knob on top and last but not least the drop and grope :eek:

Guaranteed to be the quickest way to spend £400 in 3 hrs ( unless you burn your money).

ENJOY !!

I suppose you could spend the £400 quicker with a high class call girl, more fun me thinks...

[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: FMC=MC2 ]

So which machine were you up in then G-ATOM?

Fine old old burd.

Let me know when you next go for a lesson and I will meet you at the club and show you the fine soup at the garden center.

BTW polar is the least of your worries. The fekin Sea Kings have hurrendus votex's coming off them. The first you know about it is a kick up the backside. Its more the shock than anything.

Have fun.

MJ

PS there are quite a few Bashes in the lowlands belt, next one is in Oct in Glasgow.

BTW thats the best summary i have seen yet for the class 1. The worst bit i found was the half hour flashing lights in you face apart from the dosh being extracted.

Expensive weekend that 400 for the medical then 700+ for the ATPL exams then another 150 for 2 nights in Tiger Tiger. Hells bells thats 30 hours flying :(

[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: mad_jock ]

The fastest way to spend it is on a
CAA multi IR check ride