Consultation on proposed amendments to operational multi-pilot limitations (UK Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011)

Overview

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is considering amendments to the implementing rules in Annex IV (Part-MED) of the Aircrew Regulation (UK Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011) which impose restrictions on the application and management of operational multi-pilot limitations (OML) on Class 1 medical certificates.

An OML is generally applied where an applicant does not fully meet the requirements for a Class 1 medical certificate for single pilot operations. When a medical certificate is endorsed with this limitation, the holder may only exercise their Class 1 privileges as or with a qualified co-pilot. Other privileges - Class 2 or LAPL - are not affected by this limitation.

The amendments under consideration will benefit pilots and the aviation industry by  

• enabling the issue of initial Class 1 medical certificates with an OML so that applicants with certain well-controlled medical conditions can enter commercial pilot training, and
• removing the requirement for commercial pilots with a Class 1 OML to only operate an aircraft when the other pilot does not have an OML and is under age 60 years.

The CAA believes that these changes will not alter safety outcomes since

• the acceptable threshold for a fit assessment in relation to medical conditions will not change and will be the same for initial applicants as commercial licence holders, and
• the risk of two pilots with an OML, or one pilot with an OML and one aged 60-65, experiencing incapacitation at the same time is significantly less than the acceptable threshold.

This consultation

Before proceeding with amendments to the current provisions, which will require a Statutory Instrument by the Department for Transport and changes to the secondary legislation, the CAA wishes to obtain views and feedback on

• permitting initial Class 1 applicants to have an OML applied to their medical certificate, and
• removing rostering restrictions on commercial licence holders with an OML.

Why your views matter

It is important to the CAA that everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that could affect them. For this reason, we are asking for comments on these proposed changes to the regulations. We welcome comments from every sector of the community.

This includes aviators, all sectors of the aviation industry and the general public.