Class 1 Medical rules?
 

I've constantly read advice here about taking the Class 1 Medical in the state where training/exams are going to be taken. I live in the UK but am considering training in Poland or somewhere in EU so I don't want to get there and find out I need something from my GP in the UK before they'll issue my Class 1... or worse yet, fail the Class 1 and don't know where to go.

Can someone point me to where the rules are regarding getting the medical and would I need to transfer it? For example, getting the Class 1 here in the UK then going to Poland for training, will they honor my Class 1 from the UK or will I have to re-take a Class 1 in Poland?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Source please?

If I understand this correctly, I can go to an EU state where medicals are cheap, get the initial done there, do my training in the UK, then return to that EU state to take my exams and that will be a valid way to do this?

Just a bit hesitant about getting one due to the cost in the UK and the horror stories I've heard from instructors about people failing for silly reasons. I'm not exactly the fittest of specimens otherwise I'd have done it long ago! So now I'm trying to see if, for the cost of a UK initial Class 1, maybe it'll be cheaper to fly out to an EU state, get it done there, as well as visit some of the schools in that area as well. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

With Brexit coming up, I don't think a UK-issued license will be as coveted as it once was.... am I wrong in thinking this?

That is so true, wiggy. I have to jump off this cliff at some point! Just trying to make an informed decision before stepping off, that's all. I'm not sure where you got the idea of turning up in an AME straight from the airport or that foreign medicals are "easier"?

Anyway, still not decided whether to do my training here or in Poland or somewhere else in the EU and that's why I'm asking for the rules around this. I'd hate to get a medical here then decide on doing my training in Poland and then finding out I'll have to spend yet again for a medical over there.

Indecision on that area is where I'm getting snagged on.

Brexit among other things but mainly cost and my general overall health. Like I said, I'm not exactly as fit as I was in my early 20's, stress at work taking it's toll, etc. so I'm also worried that I would fail the medical and be out of £500+ with nothing to show for it. This is why I'm looking at doing it elsewhere and killing two birds with one stone.... if I fail, then I still killed one bird.

I always look at the worst-case scenarios, which I'm told isn't exactly a good thing.

But all of this may be a moot point very soon. I've signed up for a few flights at the local flight school so flying here in the UK will mean getting my medical here anyway. Sent an email to one of the AeMCs as well to schedule an appointment.

Done medicals in both the UK and Lithuania, aside from being over 8 times cheaper in Lithuania, one may argue it was harder by a not too dissimilar factor. I'm early 20s and not particularly overweight or out of shape too. The UK medical was a lot more relaxed and in a weird way - enjoyable. Leaving the Lithuanian one though I felt totally drained, never been picked and pulled at so much in my life whilst being told I somehow had bad peripheral vision (despite 0 issues in the UK). Still got my medical with no limitations I guess.

From colleagues I also know for a fact that other European countries can be just as difficult. One person passed in one country for the same issue another country (Denmark) failed him. Don't think going outside the UK will be easier, it is likely to backfire totally in the event there is actually something up.

Anyway, the medical must have been done in the country in which you wish to have your license issued. You can't do a Greek medical then do your training in Portugal and get a Portuguese license. You would have to get a renewal in Portugal done before license issue.

Oh, no issues with the GP, the issues are dealt with and under control, I think it's just the unknown of taking the Class 1. However, the term "healthy" can take on a really different meaning once working in my field ;)

Officer Kite, one of the issues was that I wasn't really sure which state/country I want my license issued from, as from reading on these forums, it doesn't really seem like one state's license is looked at more favorably than others. The determining factor was more of which airline employs the pilot and which state was easier to work with in terms of the speed at which they push the paper around, I guess.

I went to Poland for the initial medical, it was 600 zloty in Warsaw and £50 for flights. With Hotel, food and few beers it cost me around £300 all in. I figured if I fail the medical it hasn't cost me too much and I've had a jolly to Warsaw.

It was cheap but the language barrier is a big issue and the facilities are old. It was very busy with military students and there is a queuing system in place for each exam. Pilots have priority over students and are seen to quicker than everyone else although I didn't know this because I don't speak Polish. I met a Ryanair captain who was there for a medical and he translated a lot for me. Had it not been for him the experience would not have been enjoyable.

I've since transferred my medical records to the UK which cost another £77. However, the Polish CAA cut my name out of my ECG trace before they sent it which meant I had to get another trace done by an AME at a cost of £75.

The SOLI was a ball ache too.

Best advice is to do it in the country you intend to issue your license, oh and get it done before you invest in flight training.

Always request signed/stamped copies of exams you do at medicals.

chockablock, that's exactly my thought process for doing my Class 1 in another state! Killing two birds with one stone, but I think I may have to settle for training here in the UK as it'll be less disruption in terms of work and family life. At least for the PPL stage. We'll see how it is later on.

parkfell, if you refer to my very first post here, rest assured I've moved on from that position a long while ago! I'm going for modular training now. My employer can only give me 12 months sabbatical at most, plus the cost for Integrated is, well, you know. In all honesty, I won't know if the professional route is for me until I'm actually doing the job. For example, prior to my nursing training, I didn't really like gory movies and was near collapsing watching a Discovery Channel video about a minor operation on a foot. At that point, I was sure nursing wasn't for me!! Since then, I've touched some patient's brain and helped tuck the skull in his abdomen, touched another patient's spine, handled an amputated foot, numerous digits, helped put someone's guts back in, taken out kidneys for transplants, assisted in organ donation operations, more CPRs than I'd care to do, and so on..... things that would've never occurred to me that I could do 15 years ago! Whether I can hack an airline pilot job, I can't really tell until I'm there, but I'm pretty sure I want to fly so a PPL is a given. Whether I progress further after that will depend on time and money afterwards, but I can't really determine that until I'm in that situation, so I've stepped off the cliff now and have booked myself for some flying lessons. The gray matter hasn't really been taxed so much recently, it'll be good for it to be exercised again!!

A friend of mine found out about an aeromedical examiner in a nearby hospital and suggested that instead of going down to London for a Class 1, why not get a Class 2 for now (seeing as I've resigned to doing at least a PPL first), then get the doctor to advise me on what to do to improve my chances of passing a Class 1 medical later on. Spend £100+ and less stress compared to "risking" £500+ and freaking out. I'm thinking it'll be at least 3-6 months to knock out my PPL anyway plus a few flights hour-building and that'll give me enough time to sort out any issues the doctor might find. I should mention that this doctor can do Class 1 re-certification as well. Is there any merit to this plan?

Exactly why I opted for the modular route! Easier to fit life and work around it, but probably at the expense of a longer training time.

It'll be PPL for me for now. I guess my next set of questions will be with regards to completing the PPL and after that, what to plan into my hour building for me to get the most out of it.


Sometimes, it's taking that first step that's the hardest!

Thanks AngelsTen! Can you tell me which AME you went to? I'm guessing he's able to revalidate Class 1's but not able to do an initial Class 1? Or did you go to an AeMC?

Is a Class 1 medical really something to be worried about?

I hadn't given it a second thought before reading this thread.

I'm in reasonable health, though perhaps not as healthy as I could be. I don't have any sight/ hearing problems and am a pretty avid hiker. That said, I'm not as slim as I could be (though still in the normal BMI range) and I'm pretty nonathletic.

I'm planning on getting my medical in Poland. Good information about the military centre, as I am planning to get my medical there...

Thanks for the PM! Replied!

RedDragonFlyer, I suspect you're more fit than I am. I do manage a good number of steps during the day while at work but I've had to admit to myself that I'm a comfort eater and it has shown over the years. My BMI is on the higher side and because of that, or because of the work I'm in, I'm on the borderline on some aspects of the Class 1 medical. Having to drive 4-5 hours to London and spend £500+ on an initial Class 1, I'd like to be more secure about my ability to deal with any concerns they might have over my health.

I'm under 35 on the BMI, so that's not an issue. It's other aspects that I'm at or a little past the borderline. For example, the blood pressure should be below 140/90 and I'm at 148/95 without medication, things like that. I guess I should really just bite the bullet and take the medical, but like I said, the time, effort, and cost to get one only to fail.... I'd like to have a bit more confidence in passing it or being able to address any concerns and come out with a pass.

What happens if they're not happy with certain aspects of my health? Is it a "fail" and "come back to us when you're sorted" and I'm stuck looking at another £500+ payment for another medical?

I am indeed going! It is stories like this that makes me worry more! Like I said in another post, one guy was told he couldn't fly because of his eyesight, but nobody told him he could've gone to any opticians, gotten glasses or contact lenses, gotten re-tested, and would've passed his Class 1! It was only after he told his story to his flight school that his instructors told him of the "fix!"

I know it sounds bizarre but that story was told to me in front of 2 or 3 other instructors and there was no reaction from them to indicate that the guy telling the story was fibbing or exaggerating, so I can really only go by that.

I'm getting mixed signals here as well. Some people would say that older chaps are better than younger, bright-eyed applicants because the older chaps have "seen the world" more and perhaps less idealistic maybe than a young pilot?

Wasn't really working on the BP issue, was going to the gym to lose weight anyway so killing two birds with one stone here! Might get significant fuel savings later on during hour-building time too!

Sorry but I don't understand how that ties in with what we were discussiong previously?

Firstly, I don't live in Europe/UK... I'm UTC+13, so YMMV etc

I think they were trying to point out that in most cases, the "ability" of the applicant (as shown through the Sim) seems to be the overriding factor as to whether or not said applicant is successful... "Age" is probably less of a factor than you think.

Regarding age, I got my CPL when I was 35 and I just got my first twin turboprop job a couple of months back... Started the ground course a week before my 43rd birthday.

Experience wise... I had around 600 hrs in GA and 1000 hrs in the RHS of a Cessna Caravan with Susi Air. (1950+ TT). Prior to my interview at the beginning of August, I hadn't flown commercially since 2016. I'd been "self funding" currency by going for the odd jolly in a 172 and doing my yearly Single Pilot MEIR (Partenavia and Duchess) renewals while knocking on doors and sending CVs etc.

While my previous flying experience definitely helped (CTO/ATO + turboprop time etc), part of the feedback I got was that my "life experience" and maturity also played a part in getting that "congratulations" phone call (and of course, a satisfactory Sim session)

As for the medical, my advice is to just do it. Book the medical and go. You're not going to get anything close to an accurate assessment of your ability to gain a Class 1 medical from an online forum. Only a qualified (D)AME will be able to do that. Also, the cost involved is a drop in the ocean compared to the overall costs involved with gaining a pilot licence.

Generally, if the doc has any concerns with something (and it isn't an outright showstopper like Diabetes), they'll discuss it with you and make recommendations to help you rectify it. They're not there to try and fail you. At least, none of the (D)AMEs I've ever used have...

Thanks for the replies, guys! I got an initial booking now but will need to swap around shifts to make this happen. Thankfully, the event next weekend will allow me to visit the AeMC prior to the medical so at least I'll be more familiar with the area come actual medical day/date so hopefully that will be one less stressor on my mind.