Addendum – EASA Part-FCL & Part-MED — Page 558, Lesson 755

I want to walk you through the operational limitation codes that EASA attaches to medical certificates. These are the restrictions that get stamped onto your medical when you don't fully meet the standard requirements, and they're absolutely critical for you to understand because they dictate exactly what you're allowed to fly and with whom. Let's start with the first one: the Operational Multi-pilot Limitation, abbreviated OML. This one applies to Class 1 medical certificates only. Now, Class 1 is the medical certificate required for professional pilots — the ones flying commercially. Here's the scenario: you hold a CPL — that's a Commercial Pilot Licence — or an ATPL, an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, or an MPL, a Multi-crew Pilot Licence. If you don't fully meet the requirements for a Class 1 medical certificate, you get referred to the licensing authority. At that point, the authority assesses whether an OML — meaning the limitation "valid only as or with a qualified co-pilot" — is applicable to you. So what does that limitation actually mean in practice? If you hold an OML, you may only operate an aircraft in multi-pilot operations, and you must do so with a qualified co-pilot. And here's the crucial part — that co-pilot must meet two conditions. First, that co-pilot must not be subject to an OML themselves. Second, that co-pilot must not have attained the age of 60. So you're always flying with someone who is fully medically qualified and under 60 years old. Now, a very important point about who has the power here. An OML can only be imposed and removed by the licensing authority. That's not something a doctor decides on their own — it's the licensing authority's call, both to put it on and to take it off. Let me move to the second limitation: the Operational Safety Pilot Limitation, abbreviated OSL. This one applies to Class 2 and LAPL certificates. LAPL is the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. If you hold an OSL, you may only operate an aircraft if another pilot, qualified as PIC — that's Pilot in Command — is carried on board, occupying a seat at the controls, and the aircraft is fitted with dual controls. So you need a fully qualified pilot-in-command sitting at the controls with you, and the aircraft must have dual controls so that pilot can actually take over. Now, here's the difference from the OML: in the case of a Class 2 certificate, an OSL can be imposed by an AeMC or an AME in consultation with the licensing authority. AeMC is an Aero-medical Centre, and AME is an Aeromedical Examiner — these are the medical professionals who conduct your examinations. So for Class 2, the medical examiner can impose it, but they must do so in consultation with the licensing authority. And the third one: the Operational Passenger Limitation, abbreviated OPL. This also applies to Class 2 and LAPL. If you hold an OPL, you may only operate an aircraft without passengers on board. Simple and straightforward — no passengers, ever, under that limitation. Now, let me tie this together with the opening line of this section, because it's important context. The passage begins with a statement about medical certificate expiry: if the holder allows the medical certificate to expire for more than 5 years, the examination requirements for initial issue shall apply. That means if you let your medical lapse for over five years, you don't just get a renewal — you have to go through the full initial examination process again, as if you were applying for the first time. That's a serious consequence, so it's worth keeping in mind alongside these operational limitations. So to summarise the key distinctions: OML is Class 1 only, requires a qualified co-pilot under 60 who isn't themselves limited, and only the licensing authority can impose or remove it. OSL is Class 2 and LAPL, requires a PIC on board at the controls with dual controls, and for Class 2 can be imposed by an AeMC or AME in consultation with the licensing authority. And OPL is Class 2 and LAPL, restricting you to no passengers. Each of these is a precise operational restriction, and knowing exactly which applies to which certificate class is essential for your professional practice.