New Medical Condition Before an IFR Charter
You are a 48-year-old commercial pilot holding a current Class 1 medical certificate and an instrument rating. You are rostered for a Part 135 IFR passenger flight in three days. During a routine check-up, your GP diagnoses atrial fibrillation and prescribes a beta-blocker and an anticoagulant. Your GP says you are “fine to work” because your heart rate is controlled and you feel well. Your Class 1 certificate is due for renewal in two months. You have no symptoms at rest, but you occasionally feel light-headed when standing quickly. The flight is a night IFR service, and the medication leaflet lists dizziness as a common side effect. You have not yet told the operator. The operator has no other pilot available, and cancelling would delay 12 passengers.
1. Can you exercise the privileges of your Class 1 medical certificate and instrument rating? Explain the decision.
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No. A Class 1 medical certificate does not permit you to fly regardless of your health. Under Part 67, the holder must not exercise privileges if a condition or medication makes them unfit.
New atrial fibrillation, anticoagulant therapy, a beta-blocker and light-headedness are all relevant. The GP’s “fine to work” is not a CAA medical assessment. You must ground yourself and not operate the Part 135 flight until a CAA-approved medical examiner and CAA have assessed you.
2. What must you report to CAA, and what should you tell your operator?
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Notify CAA promptly, and in any event before exercising privileges, of the new diagnosis, the medications and the symptoms. Tell your operator that you are medically unavailable and cannot operate the flight; do not give more clinical detail than is necessary. The operator must arrange another pilot or cancel. The decision to stand down is yours and cannot be overridden by the roster.
3. What are the consequences of flying before CAA assessment?
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Flying before assessment risks invalid medical certification, licence action, insurance problems and a genuine safety risk from light-headedness or anticoagulation. It could also breach Part 135 operational requirements. The correct action is to stand down, seek assessment, and return to flying only when CAA clears you, possibly with limitations.