Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:00 pm
#1834628
In this post I will try and set out some, hopefully useful, information around medical certificates.
Please note that it is your responsibility to check and ensure that you have the required combination of licence and medical for the flying you are going to undertake.
Students:
Unless you are flying microlights, gliders, balloons or gyrocopters:
You will need a medical at some point as otherwise you will not be able to apply for your CAA FCL licence.
The medical needs to match the licence you are trying to achieve, so that is for a LAPL licence at least a LAPL medical, for a PPL at least a Class 2 and for commercial flying a Class 1.
Note that medicals are 'downward' compatible i.e. a Class 1 covers all, a Class 2 only PPL and LAPL and a LAPL medical only a LAPL licence or the training therefore.
A LAPL medical can as things stand at the moment (March 2021) only be used for flying in the UK.
LAPL Holders
You can validate your LAPL licence with a LAPL Medical; a Class 2 medical commonly remains valid for a longer period if you are lucky enough to be over 50 (for another year) and you can then use that privilege until the medical expires.
You may also be able to validate your LAPL Licence with a CAA PMD - make sure you meet the requirements as formulated on the CAA website and that your flying - in particular the type of aeroplane you want to fly is covered by the PMD regulations. Details on the CAA website.
PPL Holders
A PPL can be validated with a Class 2 medical for the duration of its validity. For flying outside of the UK you will need a valid Class 2 medical as this is a medical to the ICAO standard and as such valid the world over.
As written above, you may be lucky enough to be old enough to have a Class 2 medical which after its expiry is valid for another year (check your medical) as a LAPL medical. You can use that privilege to fly for that extra year with your PPL licence but that licence then only has the value of a LAPL licence. That means that any additional bells and whistles you have (IRR/CRI etc) can not be used during the time you use a LAPL medical to fly with your PPL.
Another caveat is that you need to keep the PPL valid by adhering to PPL standard renewal/revalidation standards NOT of a LAPL.
A PPL with a LAPL is not a valid combo for flying outside of the UK as things stand at present (March 2021)
As with the LAPL Licence , you may also be able to validate your PPL Licence with a CAA PMD - make sure you meet the requirements as formulated on the CAA website and that your flying - in particular the type of aeroplane you want to fly is covered by the PMD regulations. Details on the CAA website.
A few additional points.
Booking a medical
From 29/3/2021 you can not just appear at your AME's office with a paper application from but have to get an account (for free) with the CAA through which you make your application and pay them the CAA fee for the medical (Class1/3 - £14; Class 2 - £8, LAPL - £0)
To register takes at the moment 3-10 days.
In addition you still have to book a medical with your friendly AME in the usual way.
PMD - Pilot Medical Declaration
Couple of important issues:
1. You can hold a PMD and a UK Medical at the same time.
2. Getting an AME/GP issued Medical does not invalidate your PMD
3. If your medical expires or is revoked or suspended then your PMD MAY remain valid if you continue to meet the requirements of the PMD
4. There have been some changes to the PMD in particular the type of aeroplanes you can fly and the conditions that apply to those options - so check whether your intended type of flying is covered by the PMD/Licence Combo you want to use
5. The PMD is valid only in the UK
Further:
1. If anyone spots an error please point it out!
2. If you have any query about your medical please contact your AME they are your first point of contact.
3. If you are a member of the LAA/BGA or other organisation and have any general questions about medical issues contact them via their respective websites/portals - they all have medical advisors who are able to help
Please note that it is your responsibility to check and ensure that you have the required combination of licence and medical for the flying you are going to undertake.
Students:
Unless you are flying microlights, gliders, balloons or gyrocopters:
You will need a medical at some point as otherwise you will not be able to apply for your CAA FCL licence.
The medical needs to match the licence you are trying to achieve, so that is for a LAPL licence at least a LAPL medical, for a PPL at least a Class 2 and for commercial flying a Class 1.
Note that medicals are 'downward' compatible i.e. a Class 1 covers all, a Class 2 only PPL and LAPL and a LAPL medical only a LAPL licence or the training therefore.
A LAPL medical can as things stand at the moment (March 2021) only be used for flying in the UK.
LAPL Holders
You can validate your LAPL licence with a LAPL Medical; a Class 2 medical commonly remains valid for a longer period if you are lucky enough to be over 50 (for another year) and you can then use that privilege until the medical expires.
You may also be able to validate your LAPL Licence with a CAA PMD - make sure you meet the requirements as formulated on the CAA website and that your flying - in particular the type of aeroplane you want to fly is covered by the PMD regulations. Details on the CAA website.
PPL Holders
A PPL can be validated with a Class 2 medical for the duration of its validity. For flying outside of the UK you will need a valid Class 2 medical as this is a medical to the ICAO standard and as such valid the world over.
As written above, you may be lucky enough to be old enough to have a Class 2 medical which after its expiry is valid for another year (check your medical) as a LAPL medical. You can use that privilege to fly for that extra year with your PPL licence but that licence then only has the value of a LAPL licence. That means that any additional bells and whistles you have (IRR/CRI etc) can not be used during the time you use a LAPL medical to fly with your PPL.
Another caveat is that you need to keep the PPL valid by adhering to PPL standard renewal/revalidation standards NOT of a LAPL.
A PPL with a LAPL is not a valid combo for flying outside of the UK as things stand at present (March 2021)
As with the LAPL Licence , you may also be able to validate your PPL Licence with a CAA PMD - make sure you meet the requirements as formulated on the CAA website and that your flying - in particular the type of aeroplane you want to fly is covered by the PMD regulations. Details on the CAA website.
A few additional points.
Booking a medical
From 29/3/2021 you can not just appear at your AME's office with a paper application from but have to get an account (for free) with the CAA through which you make your application and pay them the CAA fee for the medical (Class1/3 - £14; Class 2 - £8, LAPL - £0)
To register takes at the moment 3-10 days.
In addition you still have to book a medical with your friendly AME in the usual way.
PMD - Pilot Medical Declaration
Couple of important issues:
1. You can hold a PMD and a UK Medical at the same time.
2. Getting an AME/GP issued Medical does not invalidate your PMD
3. If your medical expires or is revoked or suspended then your PMD MAY remain valid if you continue to meet the requirements of the PMD
4. There have been some changes to the PMD in particular the type of aeroplanes you can fly and the conditions that apply to those options - so check whether your intended type of flying is covered by the PMD/Licence Combo you want to use
5. The PMD is valid only in the UK
Further:
1. If anyone spots an error please point it out!
2. If you have any query about your medical please contact your AME they are your first point of contact.
3. If you are a member of the LAA/BGA or other organisation and have any general questions about medical issues contact them via their respective websites/portals - they all have medical advisors who are able to help
Last edited by Flyin'Dutch' on Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Frank Voeten
Emails to first name.lastname@nhs.net
Emails to first name.lastname@nhs.net