If you are a commercial pilot and hold a UK CAA or an EASA pilot licence you will be allowed to command an aircraft of over 5700 kg or with over 9 passenger seats. Pilots holding a UK CAA/EASA licence will be subject to a yearly or 6 monthly medical to ensure they remain fit to fly and command an aircraft. If you are due to have a UK CAA/ EASA class 1 medical renewal at an Aeromedical Centre there is some useful information below.
What is EASA?
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is responsible for promoting the highest possible safety and environmental standards in civil aviation throughout Europe’s member states.
As of the 31st December 2020, the UK is no longer part of the EASA system so some commercial pilots may need to take action to ensure continuity of their licence privilege in EASA Member States. It is recommended that you seek guidance from the EASA or Civil Aviation Authority in the UK to see whether you have the correct licence in place and understand the correct medical renewal certificate to obtain.
Why do you need to renew your pilot medical?
If you hold a CPL (Commercial Pilots Licence) or ATPL (Airline Transport Pilots Licence) to operate commercial or transport aircraft in Europe then your licence will only be valid if you also hold a valid EASA Class 1 medical certificate. Generally speaking, a Class 1 Medical Certificate is valid for 12 months, however if you are over 60 then your medical will need to be renewed every 6 months.
What does an Aeromedical Centre do?
An initial UK CAA class 1 medical renewal examination should be conducted by an approved Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) by an authorised Aeromedical Examiner (AME). An AeMC is a specialist approved medical facility which is authorised to issue initial and/or renewal medical certificates to pilots. An AME has the privileges to revalidate and renew Class 1 medical certificates.
An initial medical takes around 4 hours to complete, however renewal medicals may take slightly less time. Your renewal medical will be completed by a doctor who is authorised to assess your fitness and health levels to ensure you continue to meet the standards required to operate an aircraft.
What will happen at the examination?
As per your initial pilot medical before you first started training, your renewal medical will be a thorough assessment of your current state of fitness and health, where the doctor will test your lungs, heart, blood pressure, stomach, eyesight, hearing, limbs and nervous system. You will need to provide a urine sample and a pin prick blood test will be used to test cholesterol levels and check for anaemia.
When can you renew your UK CAA or EASA Class 1 Medical?
You can take your revalidation examination up to 45 days before your current certificate expires and the new validity period will be calculated from the original expiry date. If you don’t revalidate in time however, you will need to book a UK CAA/ EASA medical renewal. Your revalidation or renewal examination can take place at an approved Aeromedical Centre, where you will be issued with a new UK CAA/ EASA Class 1 Medical Certificate, provided that you pass the assessment. If your certificate expired more than 5 years before the renewal medical date, you will need to undergo an initial medical again at an approved AeMC.
What do you need to bring with you?
As per your initial class 1 medical you will need to bring with you any documentation relating to your medical history, particularly if anything has changed since your last medical. You should also bring your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them, and a copy of your most recent opticians report. It is advisable to avoid caffeine prior to the test and drink plenty of water as you will have to provide a urine sample.
If you have any questions about your UK/CAA EASA medical renewal please contact your Aeromedical Centre by e-mail in plenty of time before your current certificate expires.
Heathrow Medical is an approved Aeromedical Centre situated next to Heathrow Airport and offering a range of aviation medicals including renewal EASA Class 1 Medical Renewals. For more information please visit their website heathrowmedical.com.
