Medical fitness

Answer

You can not hold any of EASA professional pilot licence without holding valid Class 1 medical certificate. The validity of your CPL and ATPL licence is thus conditioned by holding valid and current Class 1 medical.  If you lost your Class 1 medical certificate, you cannot exercise any privileges of your licence. Not even flying a single-engine piston aircraft.

You have to either re-gain your Class 1 medical or contact your issuing Authortiy to issue you a non-professional licence such as PPL or LAPL.

Answer

Yes, you can use the medications while flying. However, these medications must be approved by your Aero Medical Examiner (AME). Since your medications may significantly reduce your ability to perform the pilot’s duties, Aero Medical Examiner may apply additional restrictions or temporarily suspend your medical certificate.

Be informed that medicaments may have different side effects while in the air compared to the ground.

Answer

Codes of reduced medical fitness

Following codes are used by Aero-Medical Examiners as a limitation of medical fitness. The codes are endorsed into the Medical Certificate.

Explanation of medical fitness limitations

TML Time limitation

The period of validity of the medical certificate is limited to the duration as shown on the medical certificate. This period of validity commences on the date of the medical examination. Any period of validity remaining on the previous medical certificate is no longer valid. The holder of the medical certificate should present themselves for re-examination when advised and should follow any medical recommendations.

VDL Wear corrective lenses and carry a spare set of spectacles

Correction for defective distant vision: whilst exercising the privileges of the licence, the holder of the medical certificate should wear spectacles or contact lenses that correct for defective distant vision as examined and approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP. Contact lenses may not be worn until cleared to do so by the AeMC, AME or GMP. A spare set of spectacles, approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP, should be readily available.

VML Wear multifocal spectacles and carry a spare set of spectacles

Correction for defective distant, intermediate and near vision: whilst exercising the privileges of the licence, the holder of the medical certificate should wear spectacles that correct for defective distant, intermediate and near vision as examined and approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP. Contact lenses or full frame spectacles, when either correct for near vision only, may not be worn. A spare set of spectacles, approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP, should be readily available.

VNL Have available corrective spectacles and carry a spare set of spectacles

Correction for defective near vision: whilst exercising the privileges of the licence, the holder of the medical certificate should have readily available spectacles that correct for defective near vision as examined and approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP. Contact lenses or full frame spectacles, when either correct for near vision only, may not be worn. A spare set of spectacles, approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP, should be readily available.

CCL Wear contact lenses that correct for defective distant vision

Correction for defective distant vision: whilst exercising the privileges of the licence, the holder of a medical certificate should wear contact lenses that correct for defective distant vision, as examined and approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP. A spare set of similarly correcting spectacles, approved by the AeMC, AME or GMP, should be readily available for immediate use whilst exercising the privileges of the licence.

VCL Valid by day only

This limitation allows holders of a class 2 or LAPL medical certificate with varying degrees of colour deficiency, to exercise the privileges of their licence by daytime only.

RXO Specialist ophthalmological examination(s)

Specialist ophthalmological examination(s), other than the examinations stipulated in Part-MED, are required for a significant reason.

SIC Specific regular medical examination(s) contact the medical assessor of the licensing authority

This limitation requires the AeMC, or AME to contact the medical assessor of the licensing authority before embarking upon a revalidation or renewal aero-medical assessment. The limitation is likely to concern a medical history or additional examination(s) which the AeMC or AME should be aware of prior to undertaking the assessment.

HAL Wear hearing aid(s)

Whilst exercising the privileges of the licence, the holder of the medical certificate should use hearing aid(s) that compensate for defective hearing as examined and approved by the AeMC or AME. A spare set of batteries should be readily available.

APL Valid only with approved prosthesis

This limitation applies to the holder of a medical certificate with a musculoskeletal condition when a medical flight test or a flight simulator test has shown that the use of a prosthesis is required to safely exercise the privileges of the licence. The prosthesis to be used should be approved.

AHL Valid only with approved hand controls

This limitation applies to the holder of a medical certificate who has a limb deficiency or other anatomical problem which had been shown by a medical flight test or flight simulator testing to be acceptable but to require the aircraft to be equipped with suitable, approved hand controls.

OML Valid only as or with a qualified co-pilot

This limitation applies to holders of a class 1 medical certificate who do not fully meet the aero-medical requirements for single-pilot operations, but are fit for multi-pilot operations. Refer to MED.B.001(d)(1).

OCL Valid only as a qualified co-pilot

This limitation is an extension of the OML and are restricted to the role of co-pilot.

OSL Valid only with a safety pilot and in aircraft with dual controls

This limitation applies to holders of a class 2 or a LAPL medical certificate only. The safety pilot should be made aware of the type(s) of possible incapacity that the pilot whose medical certificate has been issued with this limitation may suffer and should be prepared to take over the aircraft controls during flight. Refer to MED.B.001(d)(2).

OPL Valid only without passengers

This limitation applies to holders of a class 2 or LAPL medical certificate with a medical condition that may lead to an increased level of risk to flight safety when exercising the privileges of the licence. This limitation is to be applied when this risk is not acceptable for the carriage of passengers. Refer to MED.B.001(d)(3).

ORL Valid only with a safety pilot if passengers are carried and in aircraft with dual controls

This limitation applies to holders of a class 2 or LAPL medical certificate with a medical condition that may lead to an increased level of risk to flight safety when exercising the privileges of the licence. The safety pilot, if carried, should be made aware of the type(s) of possible incapacity that the pilot whose medical certificate has been issued with this limitation may suffer and should be prepared to take over the aircraft controls during flight. Refer to MED.B.001(d)(4).

OAL Restricted to demonstrated aircraft type

This limitation applies to a the holder of a medical certificate who has a limb deficiency or other medical problem which had been shown by a medical flight test or flight simulator testing to be acceptable but to require a restriction to a specific class and type of aircraft.

SSL Special restriction(s) as specified

This limitation may be considered when an individually specified limitation, not defined in this AMC, is appropriate to mitigate an increased level of risk to flight safety. The description of the SSL should be entered on the medical certificate or in a separate document to be carried with the medical certificate.

Answer

Yes, you can become a pilot as colorblind. However additional restrictions may be applied by Aero Medical Examiner (AME).  Majority of the colorblindness people can easily become a PPL or LAPL holders.  You need to pass the color vision test latest before your VFR Night training.

Answer

Different EASA licences requiring different medical certificates as a mandatory document to keep the licence valid.

• Class 1 medical certificate is mandatory for all professional licence holders such as CPL, ATPL or MPL.
• Class 2 medical certificate is for non-professional licences such as PPL or LAPL
• Class 3 medical certificate is for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCo) 

With Class 1 medical, the Class 2 medical certificate is usually issued as well. Class 1 medical also covers the capability to exercise the privileges of ratings in night and during IFR flights.

Class 2 medical also applies for the instrument rating and night flying as well. However, to fly in night as Class 2 medical holder, the assessment of color vision must be performed.

In addition, to fly under IFR, the audiogram assessment has to be performed and passed.

Answer

It is possible to obtain the respective Class of Medical certificate even if you do not meet the required medical fitness in full. Such limitation is endorsed in your medical certificate and brings some additional requirements or limitations for the holder.

Most common limitation is requirement to wear the corrective lenses. In such case the additional requirement for the holder is to carry the spare lenses on board.

Limitation of the medical fitness might however be even more serious. One could fly as a pilot even with cardio stimulator. In that case the standard validity period of the medical certificate is usually shortened by Aero Medical Examiner.

Answer

No, you do not need to be a holder of your medical certificate before the flight training. You can easily commence your training without holding it. However you have to be a holder of at least Medical Certificate Class 2 latest before your first solo flight in PPL or LAPL training.