Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011Show full title

[F1 SUBPART A GENERAL REQUIREMENTS U.K.

SECTION 1 U.K. General

MED.A.001 Competent authority U.K.

For the purpose of this Annex (Part-MED), the competent authority shall be:

(a)

for aero-medical centres (AeMCs):

(1)

the authority designated by the Member State, where the AeMC has its principal place of business;

(2)

the Agency, if the AeMC is located in a third country;

(b)

for aero-medical examiners (AMEs):

(1)

the authority designated by the Member State where the AME has its principal place of practice;

(2)

if the principal place of practice of an AME is located in a third country, the authority designated by the Member State to which the AME applies for the issue of the AME certificate;

(c)

for general medical practitioners (GMPs), the authority designated by the Member State to which the GMP notify their activity;

(d)

for occupational health medical practitioners (OHMPs) assessing the medical fitness of cabin crew, the authority designated by the Member State to which the OHMP notify their activity.

MED.A.005 Scope U.K.

This Annex (Part-MED) establishes the requirements for:

(a)

the issuance, validity, revalidation and renewal of the medical certificate required for exercising the privileges of a pilot licence or of a student pilot;

(b)

the medical fitness of cabin crew;

(c)

the certification of AMEs;

(d)

the qualification of GMPs and OHMPs.

MED.A.010 Definitions U.K.

For the purpose of this Annex (Part-MED), the following definitions shall apply:

• ‘ limitation ’ means a condition placed on the medical certificate or cabin crew medical report that shall be complied with whilst exercising the privileges of the licence or cabin crew attestation;

• ‘ aero-medical examination ’ means an inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation or any other means of investigation for determining the medical fitness to exercise the privileges of the licence, or to carry out cabin crew safety duties;

• ‘ aero-medical assessment ’ means the conclusion on the medical fitness of an applicant based on the evaluation of the applicant as required in this Annex (Part-MED) and further examinations and medical tests as clinically indicated;

• ‘ significant ’ means a degree of a medical condition, the effect of which would prevent the safe exercise of the privileges of the licence or of the cabin crew safety duties;

• ‘ applicant ’ means a person applying for, or being the holder of, a medical certificate who undergoes an aero-medical assessment of fitness to exercise the privileges of the licence, or to carry out cabin crew safety duties;

• ‘ medical history ’ means a narrative or record of past diseases, injuries, treatments or other medical facts, including unfit assessment(s) or limitation of a medical certificate, that are or may be relevant to an applicant's current state of health and aero-medical fitness;

• ‘ licensing authority ’ means the competent authority of the Member State that issued the licence, or to which a person applies for the issuance of a licence, or, when a person has not yet applied for a licence, the competent authority as determined in accordance with FCL.001 of Annex I (Part-FCL);

• ‘ colour safe ’ means the ability of an applicant to readily distinguish the colours used in air navigation and to correctly identify aviation coloured lights;

• ‘ investigation ’ means the assessment of a suspected pathological condition of an applicant by means of examinations and tests in order to verify the presence or absence of a medical condition;

• ‘ accredited medical conclusion ’ means the conclusion reached by one or more medical experts acceptable to the licensing authority, on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria, for the purposes of the case concerned, in consultation with flight operations or other experts as necessary, for which an operational risk assessment may be appropriate;

• ‘ misuse of substances ’ means the use of one or more psychoactive substances by aircrew in a way that, alternatively or jointly:

  (a)

  constitutes a direct hazard to the user or endangers the lives, health or welfare of others;

  (b)

  causes or worsens an occupational, social, mental or physical problem or disorder;

• ‘ psychoactive substances ’ means alcohol, opioids, cannabinoids, sedatives and hypnotics, cocaine, other psychostimulants, hallucinogens, and volatile solvents, with the exception of caffeine and tobacco;

• ‘ refractive error ’ means the deviation from emmetropia measured in dioptres in the most ametropic meridian, measured by standard methods.

MED.A.015 Medical confidentiality U.K.

All persons involved in aero-medical examinations, assessments and certification shall ensure that medical confidentiality is respected at all times.

MED.A.020 Decrease in medical fitness U.K.

(a)

Licence holders shall not exercise the privileges of their licence and related ratings or certificates, and student pilots shall not fly solo, at any time when they:

(1)

are aware of any decrease in their medical fitness which might render them unable to safely exercise those privileges;

(2)

take or use any prescribed or non-prescribed medication which is likely to interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of the applicable licence;

(3)

receive any medical, surgical or other treatment that is likely to interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of the applicable licence.

(b)

In addition, holders of a medical certificate shall, without undue delay and before exercising the privileges of their licence, seek aero-medical advice from the AeMC, AME or GMP, as applicable, when they:

(1)

have undergone a surgical operation or invasive procedure;

(2)

have commenced the regular use of any medication;

(3)

have suffered any significant personal injury involving incapacity to function as a member of the flight crew;

(4)

have been suffering from any significant illness involving incapacity to function as a member of the flight crew;

(5)

are pregnant;

(6)

have been admitted to hospital or medical clinic;

(7)

first require correcting lenses.

(c)

In the cases referred to in point (b):

(1)

holders of class 1 and class 2 medical certificates shall seek the aero-medical advice of an AeMC or AME. In that case, the AeMC or AME shall assess their medical fitness and decide whether they are fit to resume the exercise of their privileges;

(2)

holders of light aircraft pilot licence medical certificates shall seek the aero-medical advice of an AeMC, an AME or the GMP who signed the medical certificate. In that case, the AeMC, AME or GMP shall assess their medical fitness and decide whether they are fit to resume the exercise of their privileges.

(d)

Cabin crew members shall not perform duties on an aircraft and, where applicable, shall not exercise the privileges of their cabin crew attestation when they are aware of any decrease in their medical fitness, to the extent that this medical condition might render them unable to discharge their safety duties and responsibilities.

(e)

In addition, if any of the medical conditions specified in points (1) to (5) of point (b) apply, cabin crew members shall, without undue delay, seek the advice of an AME, AeMC or OHMP, as applicable. In that case, the AME, AeMC or OHMP shall assess the medical fitness of the cabin crew members and decide whether they are fit to resume their safety duties.

MED.A.025 Obligations of the AeMC, AME, GMP and OHMP U.K.

(a)

When conducting aero-medical examinations and aero-medical assessments as required in this Annex (Part-MED), the AeMC, AME, GMP and OHMP shall:

(1)

ensure that communication with the applicant can be established without language barriers;

(2)

make the applicant aware of the consequences of providing incomplete, inaccurate or false statements on their medical history;

(3)

notify the licensing authority, or, in the case of cabin crew attestation holders, notify the competent authority, if the applicant provides incomplete, inaccurate or false statements on their medical history;

(4)

notify the licensing authority if an applicant withdraws the application for a medical certificate at any stage of the process.

(b)

After completion of the aero-medical examinations and assessments, the AeMC, AME, GMP and OHMP shall:

(1)

inform the applicant whether he or she is fit, unfit or referred to the medical assessor of the licensing authority, AeMC or AME, as applicable;

(2)

inform the applicant of any limitation that may restrict flight training or the privileges of his or her licence or cabin crew attestation, as applicable;

(3)

if the applicant has been assessed as unfit, inform him or her of his or her right to have the decision reviewed in accordance with the procedures of the competent authority;

(4)

in the case of applicants for a medical certificate, submit without delay to the medical assessor of the licensing authority a signed, or electronically authenticated, report containing the detailed results of the aero-medical examinations and assessments as required for the class of medical certificate and a copy of the application form, the examination form, and the medical certificate;

(5)

inform the applicant of his or her responsibilities in the case of decrease in medical fitness, as specified in point MED.A.020.

(c)

Where consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority is required in accordance with this Annex (Part-MED), the AeMC and AME shall follow the procedure established by the competent authority.

(d)

AeMCs, AMEs, GMPs and OHMPs shall maintain records with details of aero-medical examinations and assessments performed in accordance with this Annex (Part-MED) and their results for a minimum of 10 years, or for a longer period if so determined by national legislation.

(e)

AeMCs, AMEs, GMPs and OHMPs shall submit to the medical assessor of the competent authority, upon request, all aero-medical records and reports, and any other relevant information, when required for:

(1)

medical certification;

(2)

oversight functions.

(f)

AeMCs and AMEs shall enter or update the data included in the European Aero-Medical Repository in accordance with point (d) of point ARA.MED.160.

SECTION 2 U.K. Requirements for medical certificates

MED.A.030 Medical certificates U.K.

(a)

A student pilot shall not fly solo unless that student pilot holds a medical certificate, as required for the relevant licence.

(b)

An applicant for a licence, in accordance with Annex I (Part-FCL), shall hold a medical certificate issued in accordance with this Annex (Part-MED) and appropriate to the licence privileges applied for.

(c)

[F2 When exercising the privileges of a:

(1)

light aircraft pilot licence (LAPL), a balloon pilot licence (BPL) issued in accordance with Annex III (Part-BFCL) to Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395, or a sailplane pilot licence (SPL) issued in accordance with Annex III (Part-SFCL) to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, the pilot shall hold at least a valid LAPL medical certificate;

(2)

private pilot licence (PPL), the pilot shall hold at least a valid class 2 medical certificate;

(3)

BPL for the purpose of:

(i)

commercial passenger ballooning, the pilot shall hold at least a valid class 2 medical certificate;

(ii)

commercial operation other than commercial passenger ballooning, with more than 4 persons on board the aircraft, the pilot shall hold at least a valid class 2 medical certificate;

(4)

SPL for the purpose of commercial sailplane operations other than those specified in Article 3(2) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, the pilot shall hold at least a valid class 2 medical certificate;

(5)

a commercial pilot licence (CPL), a multi-crew pilot licence (MPL) or an airline transport pilot licence (ATPL), the pilot shall hold a valid class 1 medical certificate.]

(d)

If a night rating is added to a PPL or LAPL, the licence holder shall be colour safe.

(e)

If an instrument rating or en route instrument rating is added to a PPL, the licence holder shall undertake pure tone audiometry examinations in accordance with the periodicity and the standard required for class 1 medical certificate holders.

(f)

A licence holder shall not at any time hold more than one medical certificate issued in accordance with this Annex (Part-MED).

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/359 of 4 March 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).

MED.A.035 Application for a medical certificate U.K.

(a)

Applications for a medical certificate shall be made in a form and manner established by the competent authority.

(b)

Applicants for a medical certificate shall provide the AeMC, AME or GMP, as applicable, with:

(1)

proof of their identity;

(2)

a signed declaration:

(i)

of medical facts concerning their medical history;

(ii)

as to whether they have previously applied for a medical certificate or have undergone an aero-medical examination for a medical certificate and, if so, by whom and with what result;

(iii)

as to whether they have ever been assessed as unfit or had a medical certificate suspended or revoked.

(c)

When applying for a revalidation or renewal of the medical certificate, applicants shall present the most recent medical certificate to the AeMC, AME or GMP, as applicable, prior to the relevant aero-medical examinations.

MED.A.040 Issuance, revalidation and renewal of medical certificates U.K.

(a)

A medical certificate shall only be issued, revalidated or renewed once the required aero-medical examinations and assessments, as applicable, have been completed and the applicant has been assessed as fit.

(b)

Initial issuance

(1)

Class 1 medical certificates shall be issued by an AeMC.

(2)

Class 2 medical certificates shall be issued by an AeMC or an AME.

(3)

LAPL medical certificates shall be issued by an AeMC or an AME. They may also be issued by a GMP if so permitted under the national law of the Member State of the licensing authority to which the application for the medical certificate has been made.

(c)

Revalidation and renewal

(1)

Class 1 and class 2 medical certificates shall be revalidated and renewed by an AeMC or an AME.

(2)

LAPL medical certificates shall be revalidated and renewed by an AeMC or an AME. They may also be revalidated or renewed by a GMP if so permitted under the national law of the Member State of the licensing authority to which the application for the medical certificate has been made.

(d)

The AeMC, AME or GMP shall only issue, revalidate or renew a medical certificate if both of the following conditions have been met:

(1)

the applicant has provided them with a complete medical history and, if required by the AeMC, AME or GMP, with results of medical examinations and tests conducted by the applicant's physician or any medical specialists;

(2)

the AeMC, AME or GMP has conducted the aero-medical assessment based on the medical examinations and tests as required for the relevant medical certificate to verify that the applicant complies with all the relevant requirements of this Annex (Part-MED).

(e)

The AME, AeMC or, in the case of referral, the medical assessor of the licensing authority may require the applicant to undergo additional medical examinations and investigations when there is a clinical or epidemiological indication before the medical certificate is issued, revalidated or renewed.

(f)

The medical assessor of the licensing authority may issue or reissue a medical certificate.

MED.A.045 Validity, revalidation and renewal of medical certificates U.K.

(a)

Validity

(1)

Class 1 medical certificates shall be valid for a period of 12 months.

(2)

By derogation from point (1), the period of validity of class 1 medical certificates shall be 6 months for licence holders who:

(i)

are engaged in single-pilot commercial air transport operations carrying passengers and have reached the age of 40;

(ii)

have reached the age of 60.

(3)

Class 2 medical certificates shall be valid for a period of:

(i)

60 months, until the licence holder reaches the age of 40. A medical certificate issued prior to the licence holder reaching the age of 40 shall cease to be valid after the licence holder reaches the age of 42;

(ii)

24 months, for licence holders aged between 40 and 50. A medical certificate issued prior to the licence holder reaching the age of 50 shall cease to be valid after the licence holder reaches the age of 51;

(iii)

12 months, for licence holders aged above 50.

(4)

LAPL medical certificates shall be valid for a period of:

(i)

60 months, until the licence holder reaches the age of 40. A medical certificate issued prior to the licence holder reaching the age of 40 shall cease to be valid after the licence holder reaches the age of 42;

(ii)

24 months, for licence holders aged above 40.

(5)

The validity period of a medical certificate, including any associated examination or special investigation, shall be calculated from the date of the aero-medical examination in the case of initial issue and renewal, and from the expiry date of the previous medical certificate in the case of revalidation.

(b)

Revalidation

Aero-medical examinations and assessments, as applicable, for the revalidation of a medical certificate may be undertaken up to 45 days prior to the expiry date of the medical certificate.

(c)

Renewal

(1)

If the holder of a medical certificate does not comply with point (b), a renewal examination and assessment, as applicable, shall be required.

(2)

In the case of class 1 and class 2 medical certificates:

(i)

if the medical certificate has expired for less than 2 years, a routine revalidation aero-medical examination shall be performed;

(ii)

if the medical certificate has expired for more than 2 years but less than 5 years, the AeMC or AME shall only conduct the renewal aero-medical examination after assessment of the aero-medical records of the applicant;

(iii)

if the medical certificate has expired for more than 5 years, the aero-medical examination requirements for initial issue shall apply and the assessment shall be based on the revalidation requirements.

(3)

In the case of LAPL medical certificates, the AeMC, AME or GMP shall assess the medical history of the applicant and perform the aero-medical examinations and assessments, as applicable, in accordance with points MED.B.005 and MED.B.095.

MED.A.046 Suspension or revocation of medical certificates U.K.

(a)

A medical certificate may be suspended or revoked by the licensing authority.

(b)

Upon suspension of the medical certificate, the holder shall return the medical certificate to the licensing authority on request of that authority.

(c)

Upon revocation of the medical certificate, the holder shall immediately return the medical certificate to the licensing authority.

MED.A.050 Referral U.K.

(a)

If an applicant for a class 1 or class 2 medical certificate is referred to the medical assessor of the licensing authority in accordance with point MED.B.001, the AeMC or AME shall transfer the relevant medical documentation to the licensing authority.

(b)

If an applicant for a LAPL medical certificate is referred to an AME or AeMC in accordance with point MED.B.001, the GMP shall transfer the relevant medical documentation to the AeMC or AME.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/27 of 19 December 2018 amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).