What is involved in an aviation medical?
We provide comprehensive aviation medical examinations at Wantage Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Clinic. An aviation medical examination is a comprehensive assessment of your health to ensure you meet the required standards for flying. The examination includes various checks and tests to evaluate your physical and mental fitness.
Medical examination components
Vision and eye examination
Hearing test
Blood pressure and heart check
Lung function assessment
Medical history review
Physical examination
Urine test
UK CAA Medical Certificate Table of Validity Periods
Latest information from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (Version 11.1, 03/2025)
| Medical Certificate | UK Class 1 Pilots | UK Class 2 Pilots | UK LAPL Pilots | UK Class 3 ATCOs | UK Class 1 (Flight Engineers) |
| Initial Issue | AeMC | AeMC / All AMEs | AeMC / All AMEs / GP | AeMC | AeMC |
| Revalidation / Renewal | AeMC / Class 1 rated AME | AeMC / All AMEs | AeMC / All AMEs / GP | AeMC / Class 3 rated AME | AeMC / Class 1 rated AME |
| Validity - Class 1 | Single pilot air transport: < 40yrs: 12 months ≥ 40yrs: 6 months ≥ 60yrs: Not valid¹ Other commercial: < 60yrs: 12 months ≥ 60yrs: 6 months¹ | < 40yrs: 60 months² 40-49yrs: 24 months³ ≥ 50yrs: 12 months | < 40yrs: 60 months⁴ ≥ 40yrs: 24 months | < 40yrs: 24 months⁵ ≥ 40yrs: 12 months | 12 months |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) | At initial, then: < 30yrs: 60 months 30-39yrs: 24 months 40-49yrs: 12 months > 50yrs: Every medical | At initial, then at first examination after age 40yrs At first examination after age 50yrs, then every 24 months or when clinically indicated | Clinical indication only | At initial, then: < 30yrs: 48 months At all revalidation or renewal examinations thereafter or when clinically indicated. | At initial, then: < 30yrs: 60 months 30-39yrs: 24 months > 40yrs: 12 months |
| Audiogram | At initial, then: < 40yrs: 60 months ≥ 40yrs: 24 months | Instrument rating only. Prior to initial issue, then: < 40yrs: 60 months ≥ 40yrs: 24 months | Clinical indication only | At initial then: < 40yrs: 48 months ≥ 40yrs: 24 months | < 40yrs: 60 months ≥ 40yrs: 36 months |
| Comprehensive Ophthalmology | At initial, then: 5 yearly if +3D to +5D or -3D to -6D or astigmatism or anisometropia is between 2D and 3D 2 yearly if < -6D or > +5D or if anisometropia or astigmatism > 3D | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only | At initial, then: 4 yearly if exceeds +3 to -3D 2 yearly if exceeds -6D 2 yearly if > 3D of anisometropia or astigmatism or when clinically indicated Note that Class 3 ATCOs require tonometry at first examination >40yrs. Routine vision checks at all other medical examinations | At initial, then: < 40yrs: 48 months ≥ 40yrs: 24 months |
| Haemoglobin | Every examination | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only |
| Lipids | At initial, then at first examination after age 40yrs or when clinically indicated | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only | At initial, then at first examination after age 40yrs or when clinically indicated | Clinical indication only |
| Respiratory Function Tests | At initial (FEV1/FVC), then when clinically indicated | Clinical indication only | Clinical indication only | At initial (FEV1/FVC), then when clinically indicated | At initial (FEV1/FVC), then when clinically indicated |
Footnotes:
¹ The holder of a pilot licence who has attained the age of 60 years shall not act as a pilot of an aircraft engaged in commercial air transport except as a member of a multi-pilot crew. The holder of a pilot licence who has attained the age of 65 years shall not act as a pilot of an aircraft that is engaged in commercial air transport.
² Not valid from 42nd birthday
³ Not valid from 51st birthday
⁴ Not valid from 42nd birthday
⁵ Not valid from 41st birthday
KEY
AeMC: Aeromedical centre
AME: Aeromedical examiner
CAA: Civil Aviation Authority
FEV1: Forced expiratory volume (in 1 second)
FVC: Forced vital capacity
GP: General practitioner
LAPL: Light aircraft pilot's licence
ATCO: Air Traffic Control Officer
Revalidation and Renewal Guidance
Notes on validity, revalidation and renewal of UK Class 1, 2 and LAPL medical certificates:
General Information:
- A licence holder shall not at any time hold more than one medical certificate issued in accordance with UK Part MED.
- Flight engineers, flight navigators and ATCOs can additionally hold a pilot medical certificate.
- Upon revocation of a medical certificate, the holder shall immediately return the medical certificate to the CAA. Upon suspension of the medical certificate, the holder shall return the medical certificate to the CAA.
Revalidation:
- Examinations and / or assessments for the revalidation of a medical certificate may be undertaken up to 45 days prior to the expiry date of the medical certificate.
Renewal:
- If the holder of a medical certificate does not comply with the criteria for revalidation, a renewal examination and / or assessment shall be required.
- In the case of UK Class 1 and UK Class 2 medical certificates:
- if the medical certificate has expired for more than 2 years, the AeMC or AME shall only conduct the renewal examination after assessment of the aeromedical records of the applicant
- if the medical certificate has expired for more than 5 years, the examination requirements for initial issue shall apply and the assessment shall be based on the revalidation requirements
- In the case of LAPL medical certificates:
- the AeMC, AME or GP shall assess the medical history of the applicant and perform the aeromedical examination and / or assessment in accordance with MED.B.095.
Notes on validity, revalidation and renewal of UK Class 3 medical certificates:
General Information:
- A licence holder shall not at any time hold more than one medical certificate issued in accordance with UK Part ATCO.MED.
- Upon revocation of a medical certificate, the holder shall immediately return the medical certificate to the CAA. Upon suspension of the medical certificate, the holder shall return the medical certificate to the CAA.
Revalidation:
- Aero-medical examinations and assessments for the revalidation of a medical certificate may be undertaken up to 45 days prior to the expiry date of the medical certificate.
Renewal:
- If the holder of a medical certificate does not comply with the revalidation requirements, a renewal aero-medical examination and assessment shall be required.
- If the medical certificate has expired for:
- less than 2 years, a routine revalidation aero-medical examination shall be performed
- more than 2 years, the AeMC or AME shall only conduct the renewal aero-medical examination after assessment of the aero-medical records of the applicant
- more than 5 years, the aero-medical examination requirements for initial issue shall apply and the assessment shall be based on the revalidation requirements.
Important Information
A pilot medical usually takes up to 1 hour and a certificate is issued on the premises if you satisfy the CAA requirements
You should be fit, have good eyesight and hearing, and have no current or previous illness which might interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft
Before contacting the clinic to book an appointment, please ensure you have registered on the CAA Customer Portal (https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/About-us/Doing-business-with-the-CAA/Customer-portal/), have a CAA reference number and are registered for 'Medical' under 'Your Services'
After making your appointment, please apply for your medical certificate on the portal at least 48hrs before you visit to ensure the application is available to me on the day
For Class 2 and LAPL initial applicants, please visit an Optician for an eye test and take with you the CAA Ophthalmology Examination Report form (MED 162) for completion which can be found on the CAA website
Personal health advice in relation to your medical fitness can be sourced directly from me by contacting the clinic
On the day of your appointment, please bring your passport/driving license, latest Optician sight test report (prescription card is sufficient unless initial applicant) which should be within the last two years, and attend with a fairly full bladder as a urine sample will be required on your arrival
What to bring to your appointment
Previous medical certificates
Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
Glasses/contact lenses if worn
List of current medications
Medical reports if applicable
Cabin Crew Medical Requirements
Cabin Crew have different medical requirements and information can be found at https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Airlines/Cabin-crew/Medical-requirements/Medical-requirements-for-cabin-crew/
A medical takes about 30 minutes and there is no need to provide a sight test report or produce a urine sample on the day
Investigations e.g. ECG are not required unless clinically indicated
PLEASE RING THE CLINIC TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT and, as above, please bring your passport/driving license on the day