Class 1 medical certificate
A first-class medical certificate is required for airline transport pilots. This certificate has the most restrictive medical standards. The holder of a medical certificate shall be mentally and physically fit to exercise safely the privileges of the applicable licence.
If you are not a holder of the first-class medical certificate, we will be glad to help you arrange your examination in authorized Aeromedical Centre.
Aeromedical examination
Initial examinations for a Class 1 medical certificate shall be carried out at an AMC (Aeromedical Centre). Class 1 medical certificate revalidation and renewal examinations may be delegated to an AMC or an AME (Aeromedical Examiner).
Aeromedical Centre (AME) authorized to issue class 1 medical certificate in Czech Republic is "Ustav Civilniho Zdravotnictvi" in Prague.
Acceptance of medical certificate
Certificate issued by JAA member state is accepted without formality by other JAA member state.
Class 1 medical requirements
The medical requirements for a JAR pilot’s licence are contained in JAR-FCL 3 (Medical).
The Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) are a series of regulations covering the whole of aviation that have been, or are being, implemented by the European states of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). These replace national regulations so that a harmonised set of standards are applied by all the states. The aim is to allow a seamless interchange of aircraft, operations, training and licensing throughout the JAA states and thus the free movement of aviation personnel among them.
Medical History - these are questions about any previous illness declared on your application form. You will be asked about them by the examining doctor, and if there is any major illness in your past, it is important to bring reports about it from your family doctor or specialist. Simple appendicitis or a broken arm are not regarded as major illnesses.
Eyesight - this is the commonest cause of difficulty during the examination. The exact requirements and eye examination form are listed at JAR Class 1 Visual Standards :
- Distance Vision - Your visual acuity (measured by your ability to see, in this case, lines of letters on a chart at 6 metres) must be at least 6/9 in each eye separately and 6/6 using both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses (correction). If you need correction the refractive error (the amount of correction) must not exceed +5.00 dioptres of long sight or -6.00 dioptres of short sight. This is in the most ametropic meridian (taking into account any astigmatism). Astigmatism must not exceed 2.00 dioptres. The difference in correction between each eye (anisometropia) must not be more than 2.00 dioptres. Your optometrist will be able to explain these terms.
- Near Vision - On the standard near vision eye chart you must be able to read the N5 print between 30 and 50 cm and the N14 print at 100 cm, with or without correction.
- Contact Lenses - You may wear contact lenses as a professional pilot, but they must be monofocal, nontinted and for distant vision (not to correct near vision). Any contact lenses should be brought to the examination.
- Eye surgery - Refractive surgery entails unfitness. Cataract surgery, retinal surgery and glaucoma surgery entail unfitness. A fit assessment may be considered by the AMS (see JAR - FCL 3, paragraph 6 and paragraph 7, Appendix 13 to Subpart B).
- Colour Vision - You will be tested for normal colour vision with Ishihara Test Plates (a series of numbers or shapes outlined by different coloured dots, easily seen by someone with normal colour vision). If you fail these you will need to pass an approved lantern test (a series of coloured lights that you must identify correctly) in order to gain a JAR Class 1 certificate.
Sample colour blidness test.
Can you see two shapes? - Eye Function - You must have normal fields of vision. You must not suffer from double vision. Any degree of heterophoria (eye muscle imbalance) in excess of: 8Δ exo, 10Δ eso or 2Δ hyperphoria - measured at 6 m or 12Δ exo, 8Δ eso or 1Δ hyperphoria - measured at 33 cm will require further evaluation by an eye specialist. There must be no acute or chronic disease in either eye or surrounding structures.
If you are in any doubt you should take a copy of the standards to an optician who will be able to interpret them. This will allow you to have an initial eye test before coming to AMC.
Physical Examination - a general check that all is functioning correctly. It will cover lungs, heart, blood pressure, stomach, limbs and nervous system.
Ears - The basic hearing test used throughout JAR-FCL 3 is the ability to hear conversational speech when tested with each ear at a distance of 2 metres from and with his back turned towards the AME (JAR-FCL 3.235 and 3.355). This test is done at every medical examination for both professional and private pilots.
For professional pilots, and private pilots with an instrument rating, a further test called an audiogram is required. The audiogram is a test where you signify that you have heard sounds at different frequencies. Perfect hearing is measured as nil loss of hearing (0 decibel - 0 dB) at that particular frequency. Decreased hearing is shown as a decibel loss (10,20,30,40 decibels) at a particular frequency. The required hearing levels and the maximum allowable losses are listed below :
| Frequency | Allowable loss |
|---|---|
| 500 Hz | 35 dB |
| 1000 Hz | 35 dB |
| 2000 Hz | 35 dB |
| 3000 Hz | 50 dB |
If you can hear a normal voice in each ear separately at 2 metres, you should not have a problem.
There may be some loss of hearing as a pilot’s career progresses (often due to noise induced hearing loss). If the audiogram figures reach a level 5 dB less than the renewal figures above, then an annual audiogram is required. However the hearing of experienced pilots at re-certification can be acceptable even if worse than the levels above, as JAR-FCL 3 Appendix 16 to Subparts B and C, paragraph 2 (b) states that: "If satisfactory hearing in a noise field corresponding to normal flight deck working conditions during all phases of flight can be demonstrated, recertification may be considered by the AMS (Aeromedical Section)". This will usually take the form of a flight (real or simulated) with a training captain or instructor who reports that all tasks involving hearing were performed satisfactorily.
Electrocardiogram – (ECG) - this measures the electrical impulses passing through your heart. It can show disorders of the heart rhythm or of the conduction of the impulses, and sometimes it can show a lack of blood supplying the heart muscle. In the unlikely event of these changes showing on your ECG, further tests with a report from a cardiologist will have to be sought.
Lung Function Test (spirometry) - this tests your ability to breath deeply and to expel air from your lungs.
Haemoglobin blood test - this is a finger prick blood test which measures the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. A low haemoglobin is called anaemia and will need further investigation.
Cholesterol blood test - the same finger prick as above. There is no disqualifying level, but the possible health risks of a high cholesterol will be explained by the doctor at the time of your examination.
Chest X-ray – this investigation is not required for JAR Class 1, but may be required when indicated on clinical or epidemiological grounds.
Urine test - mainly looking for sugar (diabetes), protein or blood.
For detailed description of the Medical Requirements for Flight Crew Licencing please see JAR-FCL 3.
Period of validity
The Period of Validity of JAA medical certificate is determined by :
1) Applicant's age on the date of the examination.
| Age at examination | Validity period |
|---|---|
| 17-39 | 12 months |
| 40-59 | 6-12 months (dependent on type of flying undertaken) |
| 60 plus | 6 months |
2) The type of flying undertaken (only applicable if aged 40-59). For pilots aged between 40 and 59 on the date of their examination the validity varies according to the type of flying undertaken.
| Type of Flying | Validity period |
|---|---|
| Single pilot commercial air transport operations carrying passengers | 6 months |
| Other commercial operations, eg multi-pilot, flying instructor | 1 year |
3) Whether the examination is a Revalidation or Renewal.
Revalidation means an examination undertaken while you hold a current medical certificate.
You can attend for a revalidation medical on the date of expiry or up to 45 days in advance of that date.
The new expiry date is calculated by adding the relevant number of months of the new validity period to the
expiry date on your current certificate.
Renewal means an examination if you have let your certificate expire.
The new expiry date is calculated by adding the relevant number of months of the new validity period to the date of examination.
For an examination undertaken very early (more than 45 days before the current certificate is due to expire)
the renewal rules apply.