Which medical do I need?
If you've not had an aviation medical before, then the system can be quite confusing - it can be difficult to know which medical you need.
Hopefully the summary below will help make things a bit clearer - these classes all apply to the UK CAA and may vary from other national aviation authority medical classes.
Class
1
Class 1: commercial flying
As a general rule, a class 1 medical is required if you working professionally (i.e. earning money) from piloting aircraft. This would include pilots working for airlines, commercial charter pilots and some forms of flight instructing.
Applicants for a commercial pilots licence (CPL) require a class 1 medical. The first (initial) medical must be carried out by an aeromedical centre (AeMC); revalidation medicals thereafter can be carried out by any class 1 AME.
Class
2
Class 2: private flying
For non-commercial flying with a private pilot's licence (PPL), a class 2 medical is required for at least the initial training. The first medical is called a class 2 initial, with subsequent medicals being termed revalidation or renewal medicals. Any class 2 AME can perform the initial medical.
Following on from the gaining of a PPL a pilot can revalidate when their medical expires; they may also be able to complete a pilot medical declaration (PMD) themselves provided they meet CAA medical criteria.
Class
3
Class 3: air traffic controlling
Air traffic controllers require a class 3 medical. This is broadly similar in scope to a class 1 medical, with some differences to account for the different functional requirements needed.
As with a class 1, an initial class 3 must be conducted at an aeromedical centre (or at NATS, which also have their own AeMC specifically for this purpose). Thereafter, revalidations can be carried out by any class 3 AME.
LAPL
Light Aircraft Pilots Licence
A LAPL medical is designed to make private flying more accessible to those who simply want to fly light aircraft. Whilst there are some restrictions compared to a Class 2, the medical requirements are less compared to this.
Your GP may be able to issue a LAPL, provided there is no significant medical history (and providing they are happy to do so). In other cases any UK AME can perform the medical for you.
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