Guide to Pilot Medical Requirements
If you want to fly in Europe, your medical certificate is the foundation everything else stands on. No medical, no licence. This guide covers what you need to know before booking your first appointment.
Class 1 or Class 2: which one do you need?
Class 1 is required to use a Commercial Pilot Licence, a Multi-crew Pilot Licence or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence. If your goal is to be paid to fly, this is the one.
Class 2 is the minimum for a Private Pilot Licence. A Class 1 certificate includes Class 2 privileges, so a student on a professional route needs only the Class 1.
If you are aiming at an airline, get the Class 1 before you pay for any training. It is the one requirement that study and flying cannot change.
What the examination covers
- Eyesight: distance, intermediate and near vision, and colour vision. Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable within limits.
- Hearing: pure-tone audiometry at the first Class 1 examination.
- Heart and circulation: an ECG and blood pressure.
- Urine test and a general physical examination.
- Mental health: a mental health assessment is part of the first Class 1 examination, together with screening for drugs and alcohol.
The first Class 1 examination must be done at an Aero-Medical Centre. Later revalidations and renewals can be done by an aeromedical examiner whose certificate covers Class 1.
How long does it last?
| Your age | Class 1 | Class 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40 | 12 months | 60 months |
| 40 to 49 | 12 months; 6 months for single-pilot commercial passenger flying | 24 months |
| 50 to 59 | 12 months; 6 months for single-pilot commercial passenger flying | 12 months |
| 60 and over | 6 months | 12 months |
A Class 2 certificate issued before 40 stops being valid at 42, and one issued before 50 stops being valid at 51.
What stops or delays a certificate
- Colour vision. Not passing the first colour test leads to further testing. A Class 1 applicant must pass.
- A strong prescription. For Class 1, a prescription beyond +5 or −6 dioptres is referred to the licensing authority's medical assessor.
- Diabetes requiring insulin, which the medical rules treat as unfit for both Class 1 and Class 2.
- Heart, neurological and psychiatric conditions, which are assessed individually and may need specialist reports.
Many findings end in a certificate with a limitation, such as a requirement to wear corrective lenses, or in a referral. A referral is a process and takes time, which is another reason to start early.
Where to book
The Polish Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) publishes the list of approved Aero-Medical Centres and examiners in Poland, and other national authorities publish their own. Fees are set by the centre, so ask when you book. Declare your medical history fully and bring existing reports and your eye prescription.
FlyInPoland.com plans and coaches your route. The training itself is delivered by the approved training organisation named in your written offer, and the figures here are the legal minimums, not a quotation.
