What To Expect During An Aviation Medical
Learning to fly is an exhilarating experience, and whether you’re seeking to take to the skies as a fully-fledged commercial pilot, or to explore the skies in a private plane, you’ll need to secure a medical certificate from a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME).
This blog will take you through what to expect during an aviation medical.
Why Is An Aviation Medical So Important?
An aviation medical is an essential part of keeping our skies safe. The medical ensures you have the physical capacity to operate a plane safely and efficiently, and that you are flying within your capabilities.
What Class of Aviation Medical Should I Pursue?
There are three types of aviation medical that are directly related to the type of flying you will do.
Class 1: for people seeking to work as an airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, or navigator
Class 2: for student pilots and those seeking to operate as a private pilot
Class 3: for air traffic control officers or flight service officers
If you only want to work as a private pilot, you may choose to seek a class 2 certification, but to keep your options open, it’s worth aiming for a Class 1 certificate.
When Should I Apply for My Medical Aviation Certificate?
It’s wise to apply for your medical aviation certificate before you begin training to fly so that you can be sure that there are no hidden medical conditions that may stop you from being able to meet the standard needed to fly safely.
What Happens At an Aviation Medical?
An aviation medical consists of various tests, including urine and blood pressure tests, eye examination, hearing tests and tests for cholesterol levels and blood sugar. You may also undergo an ECG to check the health of your heart.
As well as the medical tests, you’ll also talk about any existing health conditions so that the examiner can understand how these affect you, and how they may impact your ability to fly.
It’s essential to be open and honest about your health – any existing conditions must be declared to ensure that they are considered before a certificate is issued.
What do I need to bring to the examination?
• Any relevant medical records
• Any results of sight or hearing tests
• Copies of any relevant prescriptions
You will also need some form of identification to allow your certificate to be issued.
How often do I need to have my aviation medical renewed?
You’ll need to renew your aviation medical at various intervals throughout your flying career. Different aspects of the certification need to be renewed at different times and vary according to your age. You can find full details on the CASA website.
Get in touch
At Shakespeare Medical, we offer aviation examinations for all classes of certification, as well as offering support for certificate renewal. Our team are fully versed in all the requirements and will offer a friendly, thorough examination, so you can be sure you are fit to fly safely.
To arrange an appointment just fill out the form on our contact page or give us a call on 07 4953 0233.