Let’s pick this up right where the medical certification rules leave off — Page 87, Lesson 140

Let’s pick this up right where the medical certification rules leave off. We’re looking at the circumstances that trigger a medical certificate being suspended for more than 12 hours — and then the two big operational rules that follow. First, the suspension triggers. A medical certificate is deemed suspended when any of these three things happen: a surgical operation or invasive procedure; the regular use of medication; or the need for regular use of correcting lenses. Let me unpack each one. A surgical operation is any procedure that cuts into the body, and an invasive procedure means something that enters the body — even if it’s not a full operation, like an endoscopy. The point is, after any of these, you are not fit to fly until you’ve been assessed. The regular use of medication means you’re taking a drug on a continuing basis — that matters because many medications affect alertness, vision, or reaction time, and the authority needs to know. And the need for regular use of correcting lenses — that’s glasses or contact lenses worn routinely — also suspends the certificate until your vision status is properly recorded. In all three cases, the certificate is suspended for more than 12 hours, and you cannot act as flight crew during that time. Now, 5.87 introduces the Operational Multi-crew Limitation — the OML. Here’s the situation. A commercial pilot — that’s someone flying for hire or reward — may not fully meet the requirements for the issue of a Class 1 medical certificate. The Class 1 certificate is the highest standard, the one required for commercial flying. When the pilot doesn’t fully meet those requirements, the certificate may be annotated with a limitation. The exact wording of that limitation is: ‘valid only as or with qualified co-pilot’. So the pilot can only operate as a co-pilot, or only with a qualified co-pilot in the other seat. And there are three conditions on the other pilot. That other pilot must be qualified on type — meaning they hold the appropriate type rating for the aircraft being flown. They must not be over 60 years of age. And they must not themselves be subject to an OML. So you can’t have two OML pilots paired together — at least one pilot in the crew must be fully unrestricted. Then 5.88 covers Medical Conditions — the reporting duties of every licence holder. If you hold a licence, and you become aware of any of three things, you must act. First, any significant personal injury involving incapacity to function as flight crew — that means an injury serious enough that you cannot do your job as a crew member. Second, any illness involving incapacity to act as flight crew throughout a period of 21 days or more — note the threshold, 21 days or more. Third, being pregnant. The duty is this: you shall inform the authority in writing. For injury or pregnancy, you inform immediately upon becoming aware. For illness, you inform as soon as the period of 21 days has elapsed — so you wait until the illness has actually lasted that long, then you report. And here’s the key legal effect: the medical certificate shall be deemed to be suspended upon the occurrence of one of the above. So the moment the injury happens, or the pregnancy begins, or the illness reaches 21 days, the certificate is automatically suspended — you don’t need a formal letter to make it happen, the law treats it as suspended. Now, how does the suspension get lifted? For injury or illness, the suspension is lifted when you are pronounced fit after a medical examination. The authority may exempt you from that examination — so in some cases they can waive the exam and let you return without it. For pregnancy, the rules are different. The suspension may be lifted for such period by the Authority and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit — so the authority can allow you to fly during part of the pregnancy, on whatever conditions they decide. And the suspension shall cease upon you being medically examined after the pregnancy has ended and being pronounced fit. So after the pregnancy ends, you need that examination and a fit finding before the suspension finally lifts. One more subtle but important point at the end. If this procedure is complied with — meaning you report properly and follow the process — the medical certificate shall be suspended, and crucially, it cannot expire during the period of illness or injury. That’s a protective rule. Normally a medical certificate has a validity period, but while you’re suspended due to illness or injury, the clock stops — the certificate is held in suspension and will be reinstated once the crew member becomes fit. So you don’t lose your certificate because you were sick; it’s preserved for you, and reinstated on fitness. So the whole picture: three events suspend the certificate for more than 12 hours — surgery or invasive procedure, regular medication, regular correcting lenses. Then the OML lets a commercial pilot who doesn’t fully meet Class 1 fly only as or with a qualified co-pilot, with that other pilot under 60, type-qualified, and not themselves OML-limited. And finally, every licence holder must report injury, prolonged illness of 21 days or more, or pregnancy in writing, with the certificate automatically suspended, preserved from expiry during the illness or injury, and reinstated only after a medical examination and a finding of fitness.