Aircrew medical fitness (MED): classes, validity and day-to-day fitness
This domain tests Part-MED: which certificate class matches which privileges, how long each certificate lasts, the sensory standards that matter, and the operational rule on flying with reduced fitness. Questions are often date arithmetic or a scenario about medication.
Classes and who decides
Class 1 covers professional pilots and commercial operations; Class 2 covers PPL/LAPL and private IR use; Class 3 covers air traffic controllers. An AME performs the examination and issues the certificate in straightforward cases; anything needing discretion, a specialist opinion or a waiver goes to the licensing authority's medical assessor.
Validity periods
- Class 1: 12 months, reduced to 6 months for holders aged 40 or over engaged in single-pilot commercial air transport carrying passengers.
- Class 2: 24 months below age 40, 12 months from age 40.
- Validity runs from the date of the examination, not the date the certificate is printed.
Visual and hearing standards
- Class 1: distant acuity 6/9 each eye separately, correctable to 6/6; near vision N5; refractive error within roughly +5.00 to -6.00 dioptres; normal colour vision is required.
- Hearing: conversational voice at one metre in each ear, or audiometry within the published thresholds.
Fitness in practice
MED.A.020 is the rule candidates forget: do not exercise privileges when fitness is reduced, while taking medication, after surgery or injury, until an AME or the medical assessor clears you. Alcohol or drug dependence is disqualifying; many other conditions (insulin-treated diabetes, coronary disease, psychiatric history) are assessable rather than automatically fatal to a career.
Worked example
A 42-year-old CPL holder flies single-pilot charter with passengers. His Class 1 certificate is dated 12 March. The age-40 single-pilot rule applies, so validity is six months and the certificate expires 12 September: two examinations that year. A colleague of the same age flying only private IFR would hold a Class 2, valid 12 months.
Traps that cost marks
Counting validity from the issue date; assuming Class 2 supports commercial air transport; believing any diagnosis ends the licence; flying on over-the-counter medication without advice.