Frequently asked questions

• Your identity card or passport (not a driving licence)
• Your current medical certificate
• Your Flight Crew Licence or Cabin Crew Attestation
• Glasses, a clear spare pair of glasses and/or contact lenses (if applicable)
• A recent prescription for your glasses and/or lenses
• Any medication, prescription or over-the-counter (if applicable)
• Medical documentation if you are being (or have been) treated by a specialist

No, there is no need. Your medical file held by the authorities is available online and, with your written consent given during your appointment, the AME can access it.

You can revalidate up to 45 days before your medical certificate expires and keep your current expiry date: the new validity of 1, 2 or 5 years (depending on your age and the type of examination) runs from that date.

Every working day we try to keep room for last-minute examinations, so that we can (almost) always schedule everyone according to their preferences.

We schedule our examinations within our opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Exceptions or urgent requests are possible, for an additional fee if necessary.

About 1 hour for a revalidation/renewal examination (Class 1/Class 2/Class 3/LAPL). If additional tests such as an ECG and/or audiogram are needed, you could allow about 15 minutes extra.

For an initial Class 1 examination, allow about 5 hours, including the required eye examination. An initial Class 3 examination takes about 4 hours, including the eye examination.

For an initial Class 2 or LAPL examination, allow about 1 hour.

You do not need to fast for our blood tests; you can have breakfast and/or lunch before you come.

No, you can have your medical examination in any European country, regardless of the country in which your licence was issued or registered. You are welcome to do so with us. We forward your medical file to your Licensing Authority. We can also carry out FAA (USA) examinations.

You need a medical certificate to be able to apply for a licence. A student pilot must hold a valid medical certificate at the time of their first solo flight. However, we recommend having your examination as soon as possible.

The purpose of the examination is to determine whether your health poses a risk to flight safety. The examination must take place periodically to assess whether your state of health has changed. How often you need to be examined depends on your age and the type of licence.

You can request an appointment online on this website: choose the examination class and the location, and we will then contact you to arrange a day and time that suit you. So that we can determine in advance exactly what your examination needs to include, we recommend keeping your most recent medical certificate to hand.

In principle, you can only be assessed as fit to fly if your diabetes is well controlled by diet or by medication that cannot cause hypoglycaemia, and there are no complications. The use of insulin is not permitted in the Netherlands. Only Austria and Ireland have developed a DM (diabetes mellitus) protocol for this. A Sky Medical Center doctor can tell you more about this.

You may not fly once you know you are pregnant. In principle, this applies to the entire pregnancy. If an ultrasound scan has shown that the pregnancy is intact, the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) can give permission to fly until the end of the 26th week of pregnancy with an OML limitation (valid only as, or with, a qualified co-pilot). After the pregnancy, you may fly again once you have fully recovered from the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. A statement from your doctor or midwife is required.

If your cold means you cannot clear your ears and sinuses, and your ears and sinuses are blocked, you may not fly, because the pressure changes during climb and descent can cause acute pain.

If there is no active infection or discharge from the ear, you may fly with grommets. This also applies to a dry, inactive perforation from another cause.

At the initial Class 1 and Class 3 examinations, and the Class 2 examination for an instrument rating (IR), a hearing test (audiogram) is carried out. Your hearing loss may not exceed 35 dB at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz, or 50 dB at 3,000 Hz. These requirements also apply at revalidation/renewal examinations.

If you do not meet these requirements at a revalidation/renewal examination, you must provide evidence of good speech discrimination by means of a hearing statement ('verklaring gehoor'). This statement can be issued by an EU-licensed instructor.

For Class 2 without an instrument rating, the only requirement is that you can understand speech well at 2 metres with your back turned to the doctor.

This is generally permitted for all medical certificates, provided your refractive error is within the limits of the EASA regulations.

• If you wear contact lenses, you must also carry a clear spare pair of glasses.
• If you wear glasses, you must also carry a clear spare pair of glasses.
• Prescription sunglasses do not count as a spare pair, but you may wear them in the cockpit.

Class 1: Applicants with the following conditions may be assessed as fit after a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation, provided optimal correction has been considered and no significant pathology has been demonstrated: hypermetropia not exceeding +5.0 dioptres, myopia not exceeding -6.0 dioptres, astigmatism not exceeding 2.0 dioptres, anisometropia not exceeding 2.0 dioptres.

Applicants with any of the following conditions are referred to the medical assessor of the licensing authority and may be assessed as fit after a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation: myopia exceeding -6.0 dioptres, astigmatism exceeding 2.0 dioptres and anisometropia exceeding 2.0 dioptres.

Applicants with hypermetropia exceeding +5.0 dioptres are referred to the medical assessor of the licensing authority and may be assessed as fit after a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation, provided there are adequate fusional reserves, normal intraocular pressure and anterior angles, no significant pathology has been demonstrated, and corrected visual acuity in each eye is 6/6 or better.

• Class 2: no limit for either plus or minus.
• LAPL: no limits.
• Cabin crew: no limits.

Class 1 and 3: V 0.7 in each eye and V 1.0 with both eyes

Class 2: V 0.5 in each eye and V 0.7 with both eyes

LAPL: V 0.5 in each eye and V 0.7 with both eyes

Cabin crew: V 0.5 in each eye and V 0.7 with both eyes

For all medical certificates, this is permitted under certain conditions. You must always provide documentation of the type of surgery and the post-operative check-up, either at or before the examination.

Bifocal or multifocal intraocular lens implants are not permitted for Class 1.

After intraocular eye surgery (lens implantation), you are unfit to fly for 6 weeks. After refractive surgery this period is longer; see the regulations.

You must provide a report from your ophthalmologist in which the specialist describes the following:

• Date of the eye surgery.
• Type of lens implanted (monofocal/multifocal, clear; tinted or not). Or, in the case of refractive surgery, which treatment was performed.

Please note: for Class 1 pilots, only monofocal lenses are permitted. For all pilots, the lenses must be clear (not tinted).

The follow-up report must describe:

• Whether there are any dysphotopsia symptoms (such as glare, halos, starbursts).
• Glare (stray light, measured with the C.Quant).
• Mesopic contrast sensitivity.
• Any complications, or confirmation that no complications have occurred.
• Refraction measurement. In the case of refractive surgery, at least 2 measurements at 4 and 6 weeks post-operatively to demonstrate stability, depending on the type of treatment (see the regulations).

For LAPL, Class 2 and cabin crew, a tailored approach is possible, and it may be permitted if you meet the conditions above.

Class 1: The Ishihara test (24-plate version) is considered passed if the first 15 plates, presented in random order, are identified without error. If not, further testing is required, including the CAD test. This test must then be within normal limits for you to be assessed as colour safe.

Class 3: The Ishihara test (24-plate version) is considered passed if the first 15 plates, presented in random order, are identified without error. An anomaloscope or CAD test is also required.

Class 2: The Ishihara test (24-plate version) is considered passed if the first 15 plates, presented in random order, are identified without error. If not, further testing is required, such as the CAD test. This test must then be within normal limits for you to be assessed as colour safe. If it is not, you will be assessed as fit with a limitation: VCL Valid by day only.

LAPL: applicants for a night rating must correctly identify 9 of the first 15 plates of the 24-plate edition of the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates, or be colour safe.

Cabin crew: must correctly identify 9 of the first 15 plates of the 24-plate edition of the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates.

The regulations state that you are not fit to fly, or to work as an air traffic controller, if you do not feel fit. A professional pilot holding a Class 1 medical certificate or an air traffic controller holding a Class 3 medical certificate must contact their employer and report sick. Also contact your GP or occupational health doctor for further advice. See also the reverse of your medical certificate, on medical fitness, for when you must contact your examining body.

You must always state on the application form which medication you use, what it is for, the dosage and how long you have been taking it.

This includes non-prescription medication, whether obtained in the Netherlands or abroad. Your GP does not always know whether a particular medicine is compatible with flight safety.

In addition, conditions apply to the use of certain medicines. The condition for which you need a particular medication can also be a reason for temporary unfitness.

The doctor carrying out the examination can give you detailed information about this.

Medicines that can affect your ability to drive are prohibited in any case (think of the yellow warning sticker on the packaging). Not all medicines used for heart rhythm disorders are permitted either. The ban is not limited to conventional (allopathic) medicines; homeopathic remedies and natural products are often not permitted either.

That is why it is important to contact Sky Medical Center if you use medication or if your medication changes. When you start new medication, allow for an adjustment period of at least 2 weeks.

A code in the ‘Limitations’ box on your medical certificate means that a limitation or condition applies to you. For example, you must wear glasses and carry a spare pair, or have an additional test done before your next examination. The decision letter (limitation letter) you receive after your examination explains what the codes mean for you.

With normal lung function, with or without medication, and in the absence of severe attacks, you can be assessed as fit with asthma.

With hay fever, it is important that you do not use any medication for it that is incompatible with flight safety.

After an epileptic seizure, you are unfit to fly. Only under very strict conditions, laid down in the EASA regulations, can you be declared fit again after a seizure.

We accept debit cards and credit cards: Visa, Maestro and American Express. If you pay by credit card, we add a surcharge of 2% to the total amount. Please let us know in advance, so that we can prepare the invoice accordingly.

First discuss this with the AME who made the decision. They will give you more information about the next steps.

You can then dispute the decision with the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). The ILT medical assessor will reassess your application and take a decision within 8 weeks. You can find more information in the information sheet ‘Procedure bij betwiste gevallen’ (procedure for disputed cases) on the ILT website.

Do you disagree with the ILT's decision? Then you can lodge an objection. A different ILT medical assessor will then decide on your objection and may seek advice from independent medical advisers. You can appeal against the decision on your objection in court.