Class 1 medical certificate — Page 558, Lesson 752

Let's pick up with the Class 1 medical certificate and the rules that surround it. I want to start with a couple of notes that sit at the top, because they tie the medical certificate to specific ratings. First, if a night rating is added to a PPL or a LAPL — that's a Private Pilot Licence or a Light Aircraft Pilot Licence — the licence holder shall be colour safe. So the moment you want to fly at night, you need to prove you can distinguish colours properly. Second, if an Instrument Rating, an IR, is added to a PPL, the licence holder shall undertake audiometry examinations. Audiometry is the testing of your hearing. And those examinations must be done in accordance with the periodicity and standard required for Class 1 medical certificate holders. So adding an IR to a PPL pulls your hearing testing up to the Class 1 standard. Now the main body of this — decrease in medical fitness. This is a critical rule. Licence holders shall not exercise the privileges of their licence and related ratings or certificates at any time when three things are true. Let me walk through each. One: you are aware of any decrease in your medical fitness which might render you unable to safely exercise those privileges. So if you know your fitness has dropped in a way that could stop you flying safely, you must not fly. Two: you take or use any prescribed or non-prescribed medication which is likely to interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of the licence. Note that — prescribed or non-prescribed. Over-the-counter stuff counts too. If it's likely to interfere with safe flying, you don't fly. Three: you receive any medical, surgical or other treatment that is likely to interfere with flight safety. So it's not just medication — any treatment that could affect flight safety grounds you. Then there's a second list. In addition, licence holders shall, without undue delay, seek aero-medical advice when certain things happen. "Without undue delay" means promptly, don't sit on it. And "aero-medical advice" means advice from someone qualified in aviation medicine. The triggers are: - you have undergone a surgical operation or invasive procedure - you have commenced the regular use of any medication - you have suffered any significant personal injury involving incapacity to function as a member of the flight crew - you have been suffering from any significant illness involving incapacity to function as a member of the flight crew - you are pregnant - you have been admitted to hospital or medical clinic - you first require correcting lenses — that's the first time you need glasses or contact lenses Now, in these cases, who do you go to? Holders of Class 1 and Class 2 medical certificates shall seek the advice of an AeMC or an AME. AeMC is an Aero-medical Centre, and AME is an Aero-medical Examiner. Those are the authorised bodies and individuals who assess aviation medical fitness. And here's the key outcome: the AeMC or AME shall assess the medical fitness of the licence holder and decide whether they are fit to resume the exercise of their privileges. So it's not your call to make — the aero-medical professional makes the decision on whether you're fit to fly again. So the whole structure is: you must not fly when your fitness, medication, or treatment could compromise safety. And when certain significant events happen, you must promptly seek professional aero-medical advice, and that professional decides your fitness to resume flying.