MED.B.001 Limitations to medical
certificates
Regulation (EU) 2019/27
(a) Limitations to class 1 and class 2 medical certificates
(1) If the applicant does not fully comply with the requirements for the relevant class of medical certificate but is considered to be not likely to jeopardise the safe exercise of the privileges of the applicable licence, the AeMC or AME shall:
(i) in the case of applicants for a class 1 medical certificate, refer the decision on fitness of the applicant to the medical assessor of the licensing authority as indicated in this Subpart;
(ii) in cases where a referral to the medical assessor of the licensing authority is not indicated in this Subpart, evaluate whether the applicant is able to perform his/her duties safely when complying with one or more limitations endorsed on the medical certificate and issue the medical certificate with limitation(s) as necessary;
(iii) in the case of applicants for a class 2 medical certificate, evaluate, in consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority as indicated in this Subpart, whether the applicant is able to perform his/her duties safely when complying with one or more limitations endorsed on the medical certificate and issue the medical certificate, with limitation(s) as necessary.
(2) The AeMC or AME may revalidate or renew a medical certificate with the same limitation(s) without referring to or consulting with the medical assessor of the licensing authority.
(b) Limitations to LAPL medical certificates
(1) If a GMP, after due consideration of the applicant’s medical history, concludes that the applicant for a LAPL medical certificate does not fully meet the requirements for medical fitness, the GMP shall refer the applicant to an AeMC or AME, unless the applicant requires only limitation(s) related to the use of corrective lenses or to the period of validity of the medical certificate.
(2) If an applicant for a LAPL medical certificate has been referred in accordance with point (1), the AeMC or AME shall give due consideration to points MED.B.005 and MED.B.095, evaluate whether the applicant is able to perform his or her duties safely when complying with one or more limitations endorsed on the medical certificate and issue the medical certificate with limitation(s) as necessary. The AeMC or AME shall always consider the need to restrict the applicant from carrying passengers (operational passenger limitation, OPL).
(3) The GMP may revalidate or renew a LAPL medical certificate with the same limitation without referring the applicant to an AeMC or AME.
(c) When assessing whether a limitation is necessary, particular consideration shall be given to:
(1) whether accredited medical conclusion indicates that in special circumstances the applicant’s failure to meet any requirement, whether numerical or otherwise, is such that the exercise of the privileges of the licence applied for is not likely to jeopardise flight safety;
(2) the applicant’s ability, skill and experience relevant to the operation to be performed.
(d) Operational limitation codes
(1) Operational multi-pilot limitation (OML – class 1 only)
(i) When the holder of a CPL, ATPL or MPL does not fully meet the requirements for a class 1 medical certificate and has been referred to a medical assessor of the licensing authority, that medical assessor shall assess whether the medical certificate may be issued with an OML ‘valid only as or with qualified co-pilot’.
(ii) The holder of a medical certificate with an OML shall only operate an aircraft in multi-pilot operations when the other pilot is fully qualified on the relevant class and type of aircraft, is not subject to an OML and has not attained the age of 60 years.
(iii) The OML for class 1 medical certificates shall be initially imposed and only removed by the medical assessor of the licensing authority.
(2) Operational safety pilot limitation (OSL – class 2 and LAPL privileges)
(i) The holder of a medical certificate with an OSL shall only operate an aircraft if another pilot fully qualified to act as pilot-in-command on the relevant class and type of aircraft is carried on board, the aircraft is fitted with dual controls and the other pilot occupies a seat at the controls.
(ii) The OSL for class 2 medical certificates may be imposed and removed either by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, or by an AeMC or an AME in consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority.
(iii) The OSL for LAPL medical certificates may be imposed and removed by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, an AeMC or an AME.
(3) Operational passenger limitation (OPL – class 2 and LAPL privileges)
(i) The holder of a medical certificate with an OPL shall only operate an aircraft without passengers on board.
(ii) The OPL for class 2 medical certificates may be imposed and removed either by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, or by an AeMC or an AME in consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority.
(iii) The OPL for LAPL medical certificates may be imposed and removed by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, an AeMC or an AME.
(4) Operational pilot restriction limitation (ORL – class 2 and LAPL privileges)
(i) The holder of a medical certificate with an ORL shall only operate an aircraft if one of the two following conditions have been met:
(A) another pilot fully qualified to act as pilot-in-command on the relevant class and type of aircraft is on board the aircraft, the aircraft is fitted with dual controls and the other pilot occupies a seat at the controls;
(B) there are no passengers on board the aircraft.
(ii) The ORL for class 2 medical certificates may be imposed and removed either by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, or by an AeMC or AME in consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority.
(iii) The ORL for LAPL medical certificates may be imposed and removed by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, an AeMC or an AME.
(5) Special restriction as specified (SSL)
The SSL on a medical certificate shall be followed by a description of the limitation.
(e) Any other limitation may be imposed on the holder of a medical certificate by the medical assessor of the licensing authority, AeMC, AME or GMP, as applicable, if required to ensure flight safety.
(f) Any limitation imposed on the holder of a medical certificate shall be specified therein.