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Dr Andy
Tobias UK CAA AME 10251 UK GMC
2638401
FAQs
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How do I make an appointment?
For an
appointment at Shoreham,
or at Wycombe Air Park, click here
to book online. If you have trouble with the on-line booking system,
please ring me on 0794 157 9068 and I will help you make the
appointment.
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What identification
must I bring?
The CAA insist that I see Photo ID (Ideally a
Passport or DVLA photocard driving licence) at the first medical I do for
you.
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What else should I bring?
a) Your
licence if you already have one and a record of the number of hours
flown.
b) A list of any medication you take, including
inhalers. Make certain you know the dose taken. If in doubt, bring the
medication with.
c)
Spectacles and contact lenses if worn. A prescription for them if possible
(and an up to date prescription is compulsory for initial class 2
medicals and helpful if you have had a prescription change since your last
medical). If you are a class 1 certificate holder with a distance vision
limitation and your prescription changes, then it is mandatory to
produce the optician's prescription at the following aviation
medical.
d)
Please download an appication form fromhttp://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED160.pdf and bring it along completed, but
not signed (as I must witness your signature). Leave any questions
about which you are unsure.
I've arrived
at Wycombe Air park for a booked appointment and I don't know where
you are. Where are you?
My office at Wycombe Air
Park is in a low
redbrick building which is on the right just after you turn into
Wycombe Air park from the main road. There is some parking available. Most
of the Building is used by Airparts but I have a side entrance,
(to the left of the building as you face it). If you get there
at the time of your appointment and can't get in it is probably because
I have gone to the flying club office to collect you. Ring me on 0794
157 9068 and I will come and let you
in.
I have your home phone number listed
as 01903 761088 but I always get an answerphone telling me to ring your
mobile. What should I do?
This number is really now only used as a
fax number and a backup answering machine in case my mobile phone
has a technical problem. Please contact me on my mobile 0794 157
9068.
I get
the voicemail on 0794 157 9068. What should I do? I do try to answer my mobile when it rings, but
sometimes this is impossible. If you get the voicemail, then please
do leave a message, (I do check it regularly, and will phone you
back).
I have your email as andy@andytobias.freeserve.co.uk.
Does it still work? I still check it occasionally,
but literally hundreds of spam email arrive everyday and your genuine
message may well be filtered out. I would recommend that you check
the updated contact information on this web site.
Can
you do my initial JAR Class 1 medical at Shoreham or Wycombe? No. All initial JAR Class 1s must be done at the CAA
Medical Centre at Gatwick.
Can
you do American FAA Medicals? No, sorry, I'm not on the FAA list
although I have done the course at the FAA in Oklahoma City. I hope to
be appointed one day, but the waiting
list is long.
What
about South African Medicals? Yes, as of
Summer 2009 I have been appointed a Designated Medical Examiner for the
South African CAA, (but for PPL medicals only, not commercial pilots).
Can you do a medical for the
recreational UK NPPL?
No, these must be done by your registered
NHS GP
.
What
happens if my GP doesn't do these? If your GP
refuses, then you can get a NPPL with a JAR class 2 medical which I can
do.
When
and where do you do medicals? Usually Tuesdays and
Saturdays at Shoreham Airport and Wednesdays and Thursdays at Wycombe Air
Park.
How
long does a medical take? Renewals take
between 45 mins and 90 minutes. Initial Class 2s take between 60 minutes
and 2 hours.
What is involved in an initial Class 2 medical.
You have a fairly detailed vision test
including distant, near and intermediate vision, and an examination of
your eyes, eye muscles and eye movements. You have a colour vision
screening test with Ishihara plates. Hearing is tested with a spoken
voice at 2 metres. You have a general physical examination, an
Electrocardiogram (ECG), a urine test for sugar, blood and protein and
some blood is taken from your finger for haemoglobin level, and sometime
for cholesterol.
- When do I get the result of an initial JAR 2
medical? This
depends. More often than not you get the result at the time
of the examination but sometimes further enquiries are needed.
These commonly include getting a specialist doctor, or even a CAA heart
specialist to read your ECG, or asking your own GP to provide a report
on a pre-existing medical condition, or to repeat a borderline urine or
blood test. Complicated issues may require the CAA medical department
itself to make a certificatory
decision.
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Do
many people fail an initial JAR Class 2 medical? No. The vast majority of people with no
significant past medical history and who believe themselves to be
well pass the medical with no problems. Some people with current or
past medical issues will be asked to provide further reports
and information prior to issue of their initial certificate. Some
medications (particularly antidepressants, tranquillisers and sedating
painkillers) are not allowed by the CAA and this can cause a
certificatory problem if no acceptable alternative
exists. I am afraid that the failure rate does
go up significantly in initial applicants over retirement age and this
is usually because of the increased incidence of heart and circulatory
problems with increasing age.
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I have a
pre-existing medical problem which I am afraid may prevent me passing an
aviation medical. Can I get advice?Yes. If you intend to see me
for the medical, ring me first and we can discuss the situation. If you
want to do some research yourself first, you can look at the helpful CAA
medical department website on http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/med/faq.asp
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I have
had laser eye surgery. Does this count as an eye operation, do I
have to declare it at a Class 2 medical and does it matter? Yes
you have to declare it. You will also need to prove, by a letter from
your eye surgeon or by a previous prescription, that your spectacle
prescription before the laser eye surgery was within limits.
- Do you provide
a private GP service. No.
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Who do I pay and
how do I pay? You pay me directly. Cheque with a
cheque card to cover the whole amount is best. Cash will do. I can
usually take credit and debit cards through Paypal (with a small
handling charge). If you are happy to do so, you may use my
computer to make an internet bank transfer. I have had several bounced
cheques this year, usually as a result of a genuine mistake rather than
fraud, but this can be time consuming and expensive. From 01/01/2010
Bounced cheques will incur an administration charge.
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How
much does it cost, and is the price fixed by the CAA? For my fees, see the prices on this
website. Each AME is free to set their own fees. I believe mine are
generally in line with those charged by other UK AMEs and
the CAA,
but remember the CAA does not charge VAT whilst I have
to.
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Why do you make a
charge if I don't turn up? You
have booked my time. The expenses of providing a room, the equipment,
and maintaining my professional registration is the same whether you
turn up or not. You may also have prevented someone else from having
that appointment. In view of this I reserve the right to apply a £55 fee
for "No shows" and late cancellations.
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I would like a
full health screen including the sort of blood tests done at an
executive medical. Can you do these as an "add on?" Yes I can,
but there is a significant extra charge (see prices) and I can't do
these blood tests on a Saturday due to the laboratory hours of
availability. I will send you copies of the blood tests and my advice as
to whether any of them requre follow up. Please be aware that if
you are having these tests as part of an aviation medical then I must
pass any results of certificatory significance on to the
CAA.
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Are you covered by
professional indemnity insurance and do you have a CRB disclosure?
Yes, I am covered through the MDDUS and yes, I do
have a CRB disclosure.
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What about
chaperones?
Whilst a routine aviation medical examination does not usually
entail an intimate examination, both the CAA medical department and
the General Medical Council strongly advise that a chaperone is offered
to all female applicants. My wife, also a doctor, can be
available at Shoreham on Saturday afternoons by appointment. Female
pilots may also bring a relative or friend to accompany them. At
Wycombe Air Park, one of the female staff is usually available to
chaperone if required. All children
under 16 (and remember you can have an Initial Class 2 medical at 15 and
a half), must bring a parent or guardian, and it is preferable that
anyone under 18, of either sex, also brings a parent. There is also new
guidance suggesting that a chaperone be offered to all applicants
regardless of gender, and so, if as a male pilot, you would like a
chaperone, please do ask, preferably at the time of
booking.
- If I want to make a complaint. a suggestion, or even
a compliment, how do I do so?
Please contact
me directly by
telephone, e-mail, or in writing.
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