[Flyin'Dutch']

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

[Paul_Sengupta]

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.

However you can use your IMC rating/IR(R) with a Medical Declaration.

https://www.caa.co.uk/general-aviation/pilot-licences/medical-requirements/medical-requirements-for-private-pilots/

It is valid for flying with the following operational conditions;
:
• In Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) or when exercising the privileges of an Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)/Instrument Rating (Restricted). The privileges of a full Instrument Rating (IR) are not applicable.
• by day or night when exercising the privileges of a Night Rating provided that colour safety has previously been checked by an AME.

[MattL]

if you are lucky enough to be over 50

Under 50?

you need to keep the PPL valid by adhering to PPL standard renewal/revalidation standards

pedantically - maintain the validity of any Class ratings held using the PPL requirements and procedures as opposed to LAPL rolling validity

[Flyin'Dutch']

if you are lucky enough to be over 50

Under 50?

you need to keep the PPL valid by adhering to PPL standard renewal/revalidation standards

pedantically - maintain the validity of any Class ratings held using the PPL requirements and procedures as opposed to LAPL rolling validity

Yes over 50.

Class 2 valid 1 year; LAPL 2.

Under 40 -Class 2 - 5 years; LAPL 5.
40-50 Class 2 -2 years; LAPL 2.

[malcolmfrost]

Do we know any other countries that recognise the PMD? I'm assuming the Channel Islands and IOM aren't "in the UK".

[JAFO]

Do we know any other countries that recognise the PMD? I'm assuming the Channel Islands and IOM aren't "in the UK".

I seem to remember reading that they are recognised but can only be used for a-a flights, or within the territory. So you could fly in the UK and you could fly on the IoM but you couldn't fly from the UK to the IoM. You may need specific individual approval, I'm not certain.

[matthew_w100]

I have an FCL PPL/IR(R)/Night. I fly a G-reg Part 21 plane. Can I do it on a PMD in the UK? Can I do it on a PMD in Europe?

I also have my old UK PPL ("poo-brown"). What can i do with that?

[Gustosomerset]

Many thanks for this really clear summary. Just one point, and really not wanting to re-open the long debate aired elsewhere but:

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

If your medical is revoked or suspended, under what circumstances could your PMD remain valid, given the incredibly poor wording of the requirements defining its validity? In practical terms (i.e. insurance) I can't see how that could ever stand scrutiny.

[MattL]

@Gustosomerset for example, I had my Class 1 suspended last year due to cardiac investigations. I had been medically cleared but had to quite rightly jump through hoops to get the Class 1 back but in the intervening period could use my PMD. I have a number of club pilots who have stayed on PMDs due to the cost/time of specialist investigations to regain Class 2 even though they have been medically discharged by their NHS consultants.

It’s really well sortie profile risk based IMHO - in my case would it have been right for me to get in the LHS of an A320 at that stage - no, but to do some VFR PA28 flying, well yes.

[Lefty]

I understood that the overriding criteria was that whatever condition / circumstances had caused the suspension of your medical suspension, you still had to be medically fit to drive a car (and hold a PMD).

For example if you had a heart condition that might cause you to collapse or faint - or if you were suffering fits or anything else that would disqualify you from driving - then you cannot fly on your PMD (you cannot fly as P1 at all).

[Gustosomerset]

@MattL - Ah, OK, I see what you mean. Your pragmatic approach makes perfect sense.

As I say, I'm aware of the risk of re-visiting a point that has been discussed at length elsewhere and/or being accused of deliberately trying to find reasons not to fly.....but the absurd PMD validity wording currently states that the pilot (does) : "....not suffer from any physical or mental condition or illness, or any history of such a condition or illness that might impair the safe operation..."

From what you say, I'm guessing that (like me) you now have a 'history' of a 'condition' that 'might' impair safe operation. In your case (and mine) the condition was examined and declared benign, but its history and the possibility of it impairing safe flight remains, ergo the PMD is invalid based on the wording as it stands.

To be clear I'm absolutely not arguing that this is a reason not to fly, just pointing out that a lawyer could have a field day with this and that the wording should be clarified as a matter of urgency.

[MattL]

In all honestly, I think the PMD concept relies on a degree of self awareness and self honesty / judgement, if people are unsure about making a declaration they should seek AME advice in any case.

The risk area is people who should really hang up their headset but continue to make a declaration rather than facing up to an issue; hopefully these are few and far between.

[Miscellaneous]

Given holding a medical and simultaneously having a PMD is permitted shouldn't we all self declare?

Anyway, since I am not going to be able to have a Class 2 prior to lockdown ending I have just PMD'd. Why run the risk of waiting until April only to hit tech issues with the new system.

In applying there is an option to select either part 21 or non part 21. Is it necessary to apply for two separate PMDs, one for each?

[Dodo]

In applying there is an option to select either part 21 or non part 21. Is it necessary to apply for two separate PMDs, one for each?

I ticked both. There does not seem to be anything to prevent ticking more than one option, (or at least there wasn't when I did it about 2 weeks ago). In fact, as I hold multiple licences, FCL PPL, NPPL and UK PPL, I ticked 4 of the boxes.

[Miscellaneous]

@Dodo Doh, I never even tried to select more than one.