A clear, trustworthy approach to aviation medicine
Aviation Medicals helps pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation professionals make sense of UK CAA medical certification, so you know what you need and what happens on the day.
Why Aviation Medicals exists
Aviation medical certification can feel complicated and high-stakes. The rules are detailed, the terms are unfamiliar, and the result matters to your licence and your living. We set out to make the process clearer. We give you accurate, plain-English information and sensible guidance, so you know what each stage involves before you reach it.
Our aim is straightforward. We help you work out which UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements apply to you, prepare properly for your examination, and go in with realistic expectations. We are not here to sell false reassurance. We are here to explain the process honestly and help you through it.
That covers the whole journey: deciding which certificate your licence or role needs, understanding where the examination has to take place, knowing what to bring, and understanding what the result can mean for you. If a question falls outside what we can answer, we tell you so and point you to the CAA or an appropriate specialist.
How we work with you
Behind every medical certificate is a person, and often a career or a passion that rests on the result. We keep that in mind. That means giving you time, answering your questions, and making sure you understand what is happening and why, rather than rushing you through a checklist.
- Plain explanations, without unnecessary jargon
- Time to ask questions and talk through your options
- Clear guidance on documents, forms and the next steps
- An honest account of what an examination can and cannot show
How we make the CAA rules easier to follow
UK Part-MED sets detailed standards for every class of medical certificate. We help you make sense of them.
The difference between a Class 1 and a Class 2 medical. The 45-day revalidation window. Where an initial assessment has to take place. What happens if a certificate has lapsed. These details matter, and getting one wrong can cost you time and money. We set out the requirements in clear, practical terms, and we always point you back to the CAA as the primary source, so you can confirm the current rules for yourself.
Where a requirement depends on your own circumstances or medical history, we say so plainly. Aviation medicine is assessed case by case. No website can tell you the result of your own assessment in advance, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Information, not individual medical advice
The guidance on this site is general information about aviation medical certification. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice or a formal assessment. Decisions about your medical fitness are made case by case in line with UK CAA requirements.
Can you guarantee I will pass?
In a word, no. We would rather give you a realistic picture than an optimistic one.
We do not guarantee that any assessment will end with a medical certificate being issued. No honest provider can. The standards exist to protect flight safety, and the assessment is an independent, professional judgement against them. That judgement belongs to the examiner and the CAA, not to us.
What we do promise is this. Our information stays in line with current UK CAA requirements. We are open about what we know and what we do not. And we will never invent credentials, approvals, figures or outcomes to put your mind at rest. Where a business detail on this site still needs checking, we mark it clearly rather than dress it up as fact.
What is the difference between an AeMC and an AME?
This is one of the most misunderstood points in aviation medicine, so it is worth being precise.
Initial Class 1 and Class 3 must be at an AeMC
Under UK CAA rules, your first (initial) Class 1 or initial Class 3 medical must be carried out at a CAA-authorised Aeromedical Centre (AeMC). An individual Aeromedical Examiner (AME) may carry out Class 2 and LAPL assessments, and, where certificated, Class 1 and Class 3 revalidations and renewals. Cabin crew medical reports are carried out by a CAA-approved AME or Occupational Health Medical Practitioner (OHMP). Our medical examiners page explains these roles in more detail.
If you need an initial Class 1 or Class 3 assessment, contact us and we will confirm how we can help.
Who is this guidance for?
Whatever your role, the right certificate, obtained the right way, keeps you flying or working safely and legally.
Professional pilots
Commercial pilots working towards or holding CPL/ATPL privileges who need a Class 1 medical certificate.
Private pilots
PPL holders who need a Class 2 certificate, and LAPL pilots who need a LAPL medical.
Air traffic controllers
ATCOs who require a Class 3 medical certificate as part of their licensing.
Cabin crew
Operating cabin crew who need a valid Part-MED cabin crew medical report.
Student pilots
Those starting out who need to understand which certificate their intended licence requires.
Existing certificate holders
Pilots and controllers revalidating before expiry or renewing a lapsed certificate.
What guides our work
A short set of principles that shape how we inform and support you.
Accuracy first
Our information reflects current UK CAA Part-MED requirements, with the regulator cited so you can verify everything yourself.
Honest expectations
We explain what each examination involves and never promise an outcome. Medical fitness is always assessed case by case.
Clear preparation
Plain-English checklists and forms so you understand the documents and steps before you attend.
Patient-focused care
A respectful, considered experience that treats you as a person, not a procedure.
Privacy-conscious
Your medical information is sensitive, and we handle enquiries and data with appropriate care.
For every aviation role
Guidance written for pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and students alike.
Where to go next
Our services
See the full range of UK CAA medical certificate classes we provide information on.
View servicesPreparation
Documents, forms and practical steps to help your assessment go smoothly.
Prepare nowContact us
Have a question? Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
Get in touchLast reviewed: October 2026
Ready to arrange your aviation medical?
Tell us which examination you need and we will guide you through the preparation, documents and next steps.