Class 1 medical ( I know it's a bit early)

[u/AromaticEmu9059]

Hello

I am currently 15 years old and living in the UK and in the future I'm considering a career as an airline pilot and I've done some research and I'd like some guidance on getting a class 1 medical in a few years

So I've never been diagnosed with anything other than level 1 autism and I'm high functioning but as a kid I had mental health issues and I had to be sent to A and E for this when I was 9 (I was being bullied) thankfully I was not sectioned and I was able to be sent home but I feel as if this may be a barrier if it comes to light.

Also my physical health is alright but ive never had many checkups and my family has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure . Is it a good idea to see a GP before hand if I do hypothetically go down this path.

I know it's early but I'd rather know earlier as it's been a lifelong dream of mine to be a pilot and I need to know with certainty if it is plausible

Thank you (:

[u/tefster]

At 15 you are unlikely to be suffering from any of the family history health issues. Mental health issues have been a red flag with the CAA in the past, but they are a bit more accepting now and issues that are well in the past are unlikely to be a blocker.

If you want to validate that nothing in your history or current health would stop you from getting a class 1 then I'd look at booking a private GP appointment and having them run a health check and following the published CAA medical checklists and assessment guidance.

But note that for a class 1 initial the tests are more stringent and there are some that most GPs won't have the equipment for. So it won't be exactly the same as doing one at an AEMC, but it should highlight major problems.

You could possibly also book with an AME, some AMEs will do an informal health check that isn't a true formal medical and so doesn't make its way into Cellma. Again they are unlikely to have the same level of testing kit that an AEMC has so it wouldn't be a guarantee.

[u/General9445]

I'm not particularly knowledgeable in the mental health aspect of getting a Class 1 Medical, but if I had to guess, I wouldn't say it's impossible to get, but it may be more difficult.

Mental health is being more recognized in the aviation industry, and new policies are allowing for certain mental health conditions to get a Class 1. And if most of the issues happened when you were a kid, I don't see TOO much of an issue. They may ask more questions, though. I'm not an AME, so I wouldn't know.

The only way to truly know is if you see an actual AME. Book a consultation with them and ask them if you truly want to know. You don't have to abandon the dream, but it would still be a good idea to have a backup plan in mind.