UK CAA and EASA AME

PREPARING FOR A UK CAA CLASS 3 MEDICAL

1. The CAA have introduced a new Portal system for medical and licensing applications. All applicants for a medical certificate will need a portal account with the CAA and will need to have paid the CAA medical fee (currently £14 Class 1 and 3 and £8 Class 2 and LAPL) BEFORE an AME can undertake a medical. So please ensure these steps are completed before you come for your medical (or we will not be able to proceed!!). The weblink to follow to set up a Portal account and pay for the CAA fee is here and a CAA document summarising the process is here.
2. Bring your passport or other form of photo ID.
3. Bring any current or expired medical certificate.
4. Use this table to see if you need to have an eye test at an opticians before your medical. For the first medical after age 40, an eye test to include the 'puff of air' test to measure your intraoccular pressures will be required. For that, the standard report form to take to the optician is here. Otherwise, an opticians exam won't be needed unless you wear glasses or contact lenses or have an eyesight limitation on your current certificate. If that applies to you, you will need to take this Extended eye exam form to the opticians to be completed. How often you need an extended eye exam will depend on the degree of vision deficit you have. If you have a strong prescription, it will be every 2 years and if not, it will be every 4 years as outlined in the table. If in doubt, I suggest just getting it done, the exams are readily available and low cost if not free.
5. If you have glasses, bring them (even if you wear contact lenses - we’ll check your eyes with and without glasses).
6. If you have any medical conditions or are on any medication (particularly new diagnoses or treatments) email me beforehand with details. I want to help you prepare for the medical to minimise problems on the day. The CAA produces flow charts for many conditions and these are widely available on the CAA website. If you have any of these conditions, you’ll need to comply with their requirements. Sometimes a summary or report will be required from whichever doctor is managing the condition.
7. Many will need a finger prick haemoglobin blood test. Whilst I’m taking that blood we could use a drop to check your lipid profile. For some this is mandatory but for most it’s optional. So consider if you would like your lipid profile checking at the medical.  I’ll use the information to calculate your stroke and heart attack risk over the next decade and discuss strategies to reduce elevated risk,
8. If you would like a chaperone to be present during the medical, either bring someone with you or let me know beforehand if you’d like me to make arrangements for one.
9. Bring some means of paying (see fees and paying pages) unless you work for a company with whom I have an arrangement (presently only TIA ATCOs).