FAQ medical certificate
A medical certificate will be issued only if the minimum requirements are met.
You will find more detailed information under the following link:Laser eye surgery always entails temporary unfitness. Pilots may be assessed as fit to resume flying if certain conditions are met.
Following laser eye surgery, applicants for either a Class 1 (professional pilot) or Class 2 (private pilot) medical certificate are initially assessed as unfit.
This assessment of unfitness is temporary if the pilot makes a full recovery. An initial reassessment of the situation can be requested at the earliest one month after the operation, to be performed by a FOCA-approved eye specialist. The pilot may subsequently be assessed as fit if all of the following conditions are met:- Stability of refraction of less than 0.75 dioptres diurnal variation has been achieved after the operation.
- Examination of the eye shows no post-operative complications.
- Glare sensitivity is within normal standards.
- Contrast sensitivity is not impaired.
- The pilot must bring the detailed operation report and their pre-operative dioptric values to the examination with the FOCA-approved eye specialist.
In other words: A pilot or trainee pilot should only undergo laser surgery if they are aware that they will subsequently be assessed as fit to fly only if specific conditions are met. We recommend that, in their own interest, they discuss their personal situation beforehand with a FOCA-approved eye specialist.
There is no age limit for a medical certificate. It is recommended that the medical exam is performed not earlier than 6 to 12 months before applying for a pilot licence.
- 16 years for a licence LAPL Glider or LAPL Balloon
- 17 years for a licence LAPL Aircraft or LAPL Helicopter
- 17 years for a private pilot licence
- 18 years for a CPL licence
- 18 years for SRT (Air Navigation Service employees with safety related tasks)
- 21 years for ATCO (Air Traffic Controller)
If you pertain to one of these categories, you have to fix an appointment with an authorized aeromedical examiner of FOCA.
Pregnancy always leads to a temporarily unfitness. Under special conditions flying during pregnancy can be authorized.
Pregnancy is a normal physiological process, however, major anatomical and hormonal disturbances are associated with it which increase the risk of incapacitation accordingly. Thirty to forty per cent of pregnant women bleed or have cramping pains some time during the first twenty weeks of pregnancy. Twenty per cent spontaneously abort; the majority of these take place within the first trimester. Under these circumstances it is important that the supervising physician can confirm pregnancy and apparent normality before the pilot continues flying. The AMS shall provide written advice to the applicant and the supervising physician regarding potentially significant complications of pregnancy (see paragraph below). Continuous antenatal care is vital to the early detection of abnormalities and so monthly assessments are required to maintain certification up to twenty six weeks. Beyond this point the incidence of gastro-intestinal disturbance associated with hormonal and anatomical displacement is such that even multi-pilot (Class 1 "OML") or safety pilot (Class 2 "OSL") operation may be compromised, and so a temporarily unfit assessment is appropriate.
The AMS may approve certification of pregnant air crew for multi-pilot (Class 1 "OML"), single-pilot (Class 2) operations during the first 26 weeks of gestation following review of the obstetric evaluation. Monthly obstetric reports are required.
Pregnancy and flying - Information sheet
Pregnancy is a normal physiological process, however, major anatomical and hormonal disturbances with it which increase the risk of incapacitation accordingly. The pregnant pilot must also consider the cumulative effects of pressure changes and radiation exposure upon the developing foetus although these are not of immediate flight safety concern.
As flying is a demanding task, changes which only normally cause inconvenience can have significant safety implications in a pilot. A pilot shall consider herself disqualified and should contact a specialist in aviation medicine if she feels unwell or if any of the following occur during the period when flying is permitted (up to 26 weeks).
- Faintness, dizziness or vertigo
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anaemia (haemoglobin 10 g/dl or less)
- Glycosuria or proteinuria (sugar or protein in urine)
- Urinary tract infection
- Any kind of vaginal bleeding (including "spotting"
- Abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
Two copies of this information sheet are enclosed. It may be helpful for you to give one to your supervising physician or midwife for inclusion in your notes. Further advice is available from (details of AMS for each Member State to be included here).
Re-examination after pregnancy
Following confinement or termination of pregnancy, the individual may be considered for recertification after examination has been carried out to confirm involution has taken place (normally four to six weeks after confinement or termination).
You can send your change of address directly to the licence office at FOCA.
You simply make your request to your medical advisor (AME) - who gave you the medical certificate.