Hello everyone
I’m looking for somewhere to take the EASA class 1 (hopefully) medical. Since I’m in the Netherlands I’ve checked options here and there are a lot of places, it seems.
Are all such medical exams standardised or do I need to verify the contents of each location to be certain that they meet EASA requirements? I am asking because the prices vary a bit and there’s also info on one of them below that “extended ophthalmology” is not included:
Two that I have found do not list prices online: Aviation Medical Center (Hoofdorp/Rijswijk) and KLM Health Services (Schiphol).
Are there any other things to bear in mind when contacting these places? For instance, need I bring or submit my medical file to them?
Thank you in advance
Philip
I personally use AEGLIA – but for Class II. They have a good reputation. In the distant past I used to use KLM Health Services but found them expensive and tediously long. If you already have a Dutch Class II all AME’s in NL should be able (with your consent) to get immediate access to the info
There is quite a difference between an Initial Class 1 and a revalidation or renewal.
Here in the UK, there are only three approved medical centres for Class 1 Initial and they charge around £600 (€700).
Thereafter, most (if not all) AMEs can revalidate a Class 1 with little extra cost than a Class 2.
My Class 1 test seemed to be pretty standardised and very comprehensive, including quite thorough eye testing and drug tests.
I would have thought this was very similar across EASA countries, based on the same Part-MED standard, and internationally recognised.
You seem to have a lot more choice in the Netherlands, so maybe the wider competition has encouraged these lower prices.
Thank you Peter, I spoke with Aeglia and they seem OK. I also spoke with AEC Medicals and they were absolutely horrendous, so infernally rude, shocking.
Peter_Mundy wrote:
I personally use AEGLIA – but for Class II. They have a good reputation. In the distant past I used to use KLM Health Services but found them expensive and tediously long. If you already have a Dutch Class II all AME’s in NL should be able (with your consent) to get immediate access to the info
Thank you for the explanation David. I had a very friendly chat Medical4Pilots and it turns out the low price is because they only do revalidation, not initial examination.
DavidC wrote:
You seem to have a lot more choice in the Netherlands, so maybe the wider competition has encouraged these lower prices.
Sadly however I apparently won’t be able to get a class 1 medical because of my medical history. It frustrates me exceptionally because there is no reason at all, just some bloody guidelines that everyone seems to follow without thinking for themselves or making assessments in the individual case (which the EASA rules require). It is extremely irritating because now my hopes of flying commercially are effectively gone.
Sad to hear that – but it’s actually good marketing for this AMC: Many would have charged you $$$ for the examination to just after that tell you, that unfortunately you don’t get a medical..
Thanks, yes the gentleman at Medical4Pilots was exceptionally helpful.
Now I need to figure out if my medical history actually constitutes a hindrance to a Class 1. As a lawyer I have no problems at all reading and understanding the EASA rules and I see a number of reasons why I should be given a Class 1. But need to figure out why the UK guidelines – which are the guidelines both Dutch and Swedish AMEs keep referring to – are seen as black-letter law. It flies in the face of logic to see them that way because the EASA regulations are not as fixed as those guidelines are, but quite clearly state that individual assessments must be made.
Malibuflyer wrote:
but it’s actually good marketing for this AMC
philipus wrote:
which are the guidelines both Dutch and Swedish AMEs keep referring to – are seen as black-letter law
Because all the NAA like to make their life easy and gold-plate regulations.
I use Sky Medical and have found them really nice to work with. The challenge is definitely the initial, because once you have the certificate it’s easier to keep it. I’m not sure what’s disqualifying for you, but some requirements have alternate means of demonstrating you’re safe.
philipus wrote:
I’m looking for somewhere to take the EASA class 1 (hopefully) medical.
When researching on this subject in my area I came to conclusion that despite having the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Prague 15 minutes away I´ll be headed to Aero-Medical Centre in Kosice, Slovakia for my initial EASA Class 1. They don’t arbitrarily add any extra examinations performing only the ones prescribed by Part-MED. The cost is €341 as per their current price list and it takes about half a day to get it done. Whatever the problem I´d get a second opinion.
