NEWS MEDICALS


Fit to fly S


o far nearly 1,000 private pilots have successfully self-declared their medical fitness since changes to medical requirements for UK PPL


and NPPL holders were introduced in September. The move, aimed at saving both cost and time for pilots, follows a study of light aircraft accidents and a public consultation in which 96 percent agreed with the proposal. After the study and consultation it was


agreed that it would be proportionate and appropriate for private pilots to generally meet the same level of health and fitness required to hold an ordinary driving licence, with some specific disqualifying conditions. So the Pilot Medical Self-Declaration now allows some PPLs and NPPLs to declare their medical fitness online without the need for a medical examination for some licences. Initially, feedback from the GA community


showed guidance for the self-declaration to be too restrictive, so changes were made to its form and guidance notes. A joint review with GA representatives


allowed acknowledgement of the differences in risk potential posed by lighter and heavier aircraft. So for pilots flying aircraft up to 2,000kg the standard required is the same as the DVLA Ordinary Driving Licence (ODL) with the addition of a consideration for individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders, a provision widely supported in


8 CLUED UP Autumn/Winter 2016


Not sure about how the new self-declaration medicals work? Here’s what you need to know


responses to the original consultation. For pilots flying aircraft above 2,000kg and up to 5,700kg further health considerations are applied to the DVLA ODL standard. Anyone not eligible for the self-declaration may be tested against the LAPL standard by an AME. To check that the new declaration meets


your needs the best advice is to read the information on the medical requirements page (caa.co.uk/General-Aviation/Pilot- licences/Medical-requirements/Medical- requirements-for-private-pilots/) and the guidance notes on the declaration form itself. The online process has avoided the


need to introduce a charge and technical notes on how to submit a declaration are included in the guidance. If your declaration has been successful


you’ll get an acknowledgment back that includes a copy of your declaration. PC users should get the email back in a matter of minutes, submissions from a Mac have to be processed manually so you may have to wait a few days for the email. There is often confusion around the use


of pre-EASA licences to fly EASA aircraft. As a general principle, if an aircraft holds an EASA certificate of airworthiness or Permit to Fly, a licence that complies with Aircrew Regulation requirements is required. The Aircrew Regulation requires a Class 2 medical for a PPL and a LAPL medical certificate


for a LAPL so a self-declaration would not be valid. However, some elements of the Aircrew Regulation have been deferred until April 2018 and therefore national licence rules may be followed when flying certain EASA aircraft. At the time of writing (November 16): ■ Glider and balloon pilots may use the full privileges of the their national licence; and ■ Aeroplane and helicopter pilots may fly single engine piston aircraft up to 2000kg, with a maximum of three passengers, under VFR and on non-commercial operations only. These are the same as the privileges of the EASA LAPL. This arrangement is only available to holders of national licences. Those flying under the privileges of an EASA licence when flying an EASA aircraft must comply with the medical requirements of the Aircrew Regulation – a Class 2 medical for a PPL or a LAPL medical certificate for a LAPL. The CAA is actively lobbying EASA to


relax the medical requirements for all of Europe’s private pilot and hopes that it will agree and introduce a similar policy to the one introduced in the UK. The CAA is also investigating the possibility of securing general permissions for flight in other states to allow UK pilots who have used the self-declaration process to fly abroad. Further changes and developments will be announced on the GA section of caa.co.uk/GA


Ed Bellamy is Policy Officer at the CAA’s General Aviation Unit.


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