Aviation Medicals

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Take an airline medical before you learn to fly!

We know this sounds odd, but if you want a career in aviation,  this is the one thing you MUST do before you learn to fly!
All aviation regulators require pilots to meet a prescribed health standards to ensure that they are safe to be in command of an aircraft.   The standards vary depending on the size of the aircraft.  Unsurprisingly, if you are in charge of an  A380 Airbus with hundreds on people on board, there is more at stake than if you are flying a two seater glider.

So if you are set on a career as an Airline Pilot, you need to make sure you meet the health standards before you even learn to fly. Something as simple as a certain type of colour blindness could put paid to your aspirations of joining an International Airline.

Do your research

If you are perfectly fit and healthy you should have no problem passing an aviation medical. Even if you do have some health problems, this doesn’t mean you can’t gain a medical certificate. Certain conditions may require a special issuance medical certificate and these are normally detailed in each countries aviation regulator website.

The specific type of aviation medical you are applying for will determine the depth of the medical exam itself.

At a minimum, the medical examiner will check your eyesight and specifically test your colour vision. You can also expect to take an audiogram or hearing test.  The examiner will take a complete medical history, and discuss any medication you take on a regular basis. Blood pressure and uranalysis tests will also be on the list.

If you happen to be over 40, then you will also have to do an electrocardiogram (ECG).

What happens if I don’t pass the medical?

Don’t worry. Its not that black and white.  If a medical examiner has concerns they will usually push the case up to the regulator for review, and all applicants do have the right of appeal. If your health problem is transient, you may have to wait until you are symptom free for a certain period of times.

Having said that, there are certain conditions that will usually disqualify you from holding an aviation medical certificate. These include:

• Angina pectoris
• Bipolar disease
• Cardiac valve replacement
• Coronary hear disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant.
• Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycaemic medications
• Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause
• Epilepsy
• Heart replacement
• Myocardial infarction
• Permanent cardiac pacemaker
• Personality disorder that is sever enough to have repeatedly manifested itself iby overt acts
• Psychosis
• Substance abuse
• Substance dependence
• Transient loss of control of nervous systems functions(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.

This is not an extensive list of disqualifying conditions as the regulator can deny an application for many other reasons. If you are at all worried, then we recommend you check out the regulators medical guidelines for your country. We have collated these links on the Medical Resources page.

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Medical links

• Medical requirements by country
• MdWeb
• Electrocardiograms
• Find an Aviation Medical Examiner

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