In order to start training (or at the latest for the first solo flight as part of the practical training), an authorised aviation physician must certify the necessary medical fitness. There are three medical fitness classes:
- Class LAPL - Medical required for obtaining an LAPL licence
- An LAPL Medical is also required for an UL licence if the aircraft exceeds a maximum permitted empty weight of 120 kg
- SPL if no commercial flight operations are planned
- Class 2 - Required medical for PPL licences
- Class 1 - Required medical for commercial pilots (CPL, ATPL or MPL)
If a night flight licence is added to one of the licences, the pilot must be "colour-safe", which is therefore also checked in the corresponding medical examination. There are also extended requirements for an IFR rating for the Class 2 Medical, but these are also checked in a typical Class 2 examination.
In the following, we go into the requirements of the various suitability classes and provide an overview of what is part of the examination in each case.
Application, extension, renewal
In principle, a medical can be obtained either from an aviation medical centre or an approved aviation physician. At the initial examination, an identity card, a signed declaration of medical history and information on the results of any previous medical examinations must be submitted. When renewing a medical, the most recent medical must of course be submitted.
The following applies to the first issue of a medical, depending on the medical:
- Class 1 medicals may only be performed by a certified aeromedical centre
- Class 2 and LAPL medicals, on the other hand, can also be carried out by a flight physician.
The extension of a medical can then be carried out for all classes by an appropriate aviation physician.
The LAPL and Class 2 medicals have lower medical fitness requirements than Class 1 medicals. Conversely, a Class 1 medical has the highest requirements and includes all aspects and privileges associated with Class 2 and LAPL medicals. Similarly, a Class 2 medical includes all aspects and privileges associated with an LAPL medical. The validity of the medical depends on the class and the age of the applicant.
- The LAPL and Class 2 Medical for persons up to the age of 40 is valid for 60 months and must then be extended by a new examination by a flight physician.
- Between the ages of 40 and 50 the validity is 24 months and from the age of 50 12 months for PPL holders and 24 months for LAPL pilots.
- The validity of Class 1 medicals is 12 months. It is reduced to 6 months if the pilot is older than 40 and only if it concerns the carriage of passengers. In general, the validity is reduced to 6 months if the pilot has reached the age of 60.
The "extension" of a medical can be carried out up to 45 days before the expiry date. If you miss the deadline and the validity has been expired for less than 2 years, a "renewal" is required. If the deadline has passed more than 5 years ago, a new medical examination must be carried out, which must fulfil the same criteria as an initial examination. If a medical has expired, the following applies in principle: Flying as a pilot is not permitted!
A medical can also be issued with restrictions (e.g. the restriction that it may only be flown with another qualified pilot or that no passengers may be carried). However, such restrictions are the exception rather than the rule.
Medical requirements for the issue of a medical certificate
We do not want to and cannot give medical advice here. Ultimately, the aviation physician or the aeromedical centre will carry out the corresponding standardised examinations and certify fitness or not. The following lists are taken from the Part-Med and are only intended to give a rough overview of what the examination is about.
General medical requirements
Applicants shall be assessed as 'unfit' if they have any of the following medical conditions which result in them being functionally impaired to such an extent that the safe exercise of the privileges of the licence applied for is likely to be compromised or they are likely to become suddenly incapable of exercising those privileges.
- congenital or acquired deviations from the norm;
- active, latent, acute or chronic illnesses or disabilities;
- Wounds, injuries or the consequences of surgery;
- Effects or side effects of a prescription or non-prescription medicinal product used or taken for therapeutic, diagnostic or preventive purposes."
(Excerpt from the Part-Med).
Requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 medicals
Below is an overview of the various aspects that are analysed as part of the medical. The requirements for Class 1 are higher than those for Class 2 medicals. For example, someone is considered unfit for Class 1 after a heart or heart-lung transplant. However, this is not necessarily the case with Class 2.
It is not possible to give details here of what exactly will be investigated in the following areas. The list should serve as a rough guide to help you understand what is part of the investigation:
- Cardiovascular system
- Lungs and airways
- Digestive system
- Metabolic and endocrine system
- Haematology
- Urogenital system
- Infectious diseases
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Musculoskeletal system
- Mental health
- Neurology
- Visual organ
- Colour recognition
- Throat, nose, ears
- Dermatology
- Oncology
We would like to go into the subject of "visual acuity" in more detail here, as many applicants ask themselves whether it is possible to become a pilot with glasses or contact lenses. The answer is: Yes!
The following regulations apply to Class 1 and 2 Medicals:
General visual acuity:
- For Class 1: Each eye must separately achieve a distance visual acuity (colloquially "visual acuity") of at least 0.7 and, in the case of binocular vision, at least 1.0. Important: This applies to the uncorrected or corrected value. In plain language: For spectacle wearers, this visual acuity must be glasses or contact lenses.
- For Class 2: Each eye must achieve a distance visual acuity of at least 0.5 separately and at least 0.7 with binocular vision. The following also applies here: The values must be achieved with visual aids.
The following applies to short-sightedness and long-sightedness:
- For Class 1: In the case of short-sightedness of more than -6.0 dioptres, long-sightedness of more than +5.0 dioptres, anisometropia (eye disproportion) of more than 2.0 dioptres or astigmatism of more than 2.0 dioptres, applicants must be referred to the medical expert of the licensing authority. The following applies: Applicants "may be assessed as fit subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological assessment".
- However, it should be mentioned for prospective professional pilots that some airlines set higher requirements here. For example, some airlines require lower dioptre values of e.g. +/- 3.0. This must then be considered on an individual basis.
- There are no requirements for Class 2 with regard to short or long-sightedness.
The following applies to the wearing of glasses or contact lenses:
- It goes without saying that glasses or contact lenses must be worn when flying.
- If goggles are required for near vision, they must always be to hand during the flight.
- A spare pair of glasses must be to hand at all times.
- Contact lenses must not be coloured and must be well tolerated.
Other aspects of vision:
- Class 1 applicants who do not have normal binocular function or suffer from diplopia will be assessed as unfit; the same applies where applicants "do not have normal visual fields and where this medical condition is likely to jeopardise the safe exercise of the privileges of the licence"
- After eye surgery, complete restoration of vision is required first
- Colours must be recognisable (for Class 1 this generally applies, for Class 2 and LAPL Medical this must be the case for a night rating).
Requirements for LAPL Medicals
The requirements for LAPL medicals are considerably simplified. It is up to the responsible doctor to assess the applicant according to "best aeromedical practice". In particular, the medical history is taken into account.
For the initial assessment, as well as for medical renewals for patients older than 50, and at any time the doctor deems it necessary, the examination must include the following points:
- a clinical examination
- a blood pressure measurement
- a urinalysis
- an eye test
- a hearing test
Aviation physicians and aviation medical centres
You will find a mapped overview of aviation physicians and aviation medical centres here.
Source references:
EASA Part MED