If you are training to become a commercial pilot you will first need to undergo a class 1 medical examination to prove that your health and fitness is of a high enough standard to be able to fly safely. The EASA class 1 medical will be required if you will be flying aircraft that fall under the regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency.  

Whether it is your initial medical as a new pilot, or a renewal medical as part of your ongoing role as a pilot, the examination will need to be carried out at an approved Aeromedical Centre (AeMC). They will have the appropriate medical facilities and doctors who specialise in carrying out medicals to assess the fitness of pilots and aircrew and it is only these centres that can issue the EASA class 1 medical certificate you will need in order to fly. 

If this will be your first medical, or it has been a while since your last renewal and you can’t remember exactly what is involved, here is a little more information on what to expect. 

EASA class 1 medical requirements 

In order to pass your class 1 medical and be issued with that all important certificate which enables you to fly, you’ll need to prove your health and fitness is up to the standards expected by the EASA class 1 medical requirements. Your medical examination, therefore, will be quite thorough – up to 4 hours for the initial one – and will involve tests, questions and visual assessments on: 

• Your medical history – you will need to fill in an application form prior to your appointment which will include details on your medical history and during the examination, the doctor will go over these details. 
• Eyesight and colour vision – you will need to have good distance and near vision to be a pilot but that doesn’t mean your eyesight has to be perfect. There are requirements in place that will be discussed at your examination, so remember to bring along any contact lenses or glasses you are currently using. 
• Hearing – you’ll need to have good hearing, with no significant hearing loss in either ear to be declared fit to be a pilot. Your EASA class 1 medical will include a hearing test to check this. 
• Heart health – in order to check your heart health an Electrocardiogram (ECG) will be carried out during your medical examination and if necessary, further tests may be required. 
• Lung function – a test will be carried out to see how well you can rapidly expel air from your lungs. 
• Physical examination – the doctor will examine you to ensure that your limbs, stomach, nervous system and heart are all functioning correctly. 
• Blood tests – blood tests will be carried out to check that you are not anaemic, as well as testing your cholesterol and lipids levels to determine whether you are at risk of heart disease in the future. 
• Urine test – a sample of your urine will be needed to check for blood, sugar or protein, as these could indicate underlying diseases. 

Obtaining your EASA class 1 medical certificate 

If you meet all the required standards then you will be issued with your EASA class 1 medical certificate, or renewal certificate as appropriate, on the same day as your examination. If you don’t meet the requirements, or any follow up tests are needed, then there will be a delay in your certificate being issued, if at all.  

Renewing your EASA class 1 medical 

A class 1 medical certificate needs to be renewed once a year, unless you are over 60, or over 40 and carry out single pilot flights carrying passengers – in these cases it is required every six months. 

Heathrow Medical is an approved Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) offering a wide range of aviation medicals including the EASA class 1 medical and renewal examinations. They also have helpful advice on their blog for those looking for or preparing for specialist medicals.