EASA medical certificates: Class 1, Class 2, and LAPL compared

Medical certification is one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of holding a pilot's licence — both because it represents a genuine gating condition and because the rules are genuinely confusing. There are three tiers relevant to private pilots: Class 1, Class 2, and the LAPL medical. They differ in what they allow, how long they last, and what conditions they screen for.

Class 1: commercial operations

Class 1 is required for commercial operations — airline transport pilots, commercial pilots, and multi-crew operations. If you hold a PPL and fly purely for private purposes, you do not need a Class 1 medical. It is included here because many private pilots with professional ambitions wonder whether to get one early.

Class 1 medicals must be conducted by an Aeromedical Centre (AMC) — in the UK, the CAA's Aeromedical Centre or one of the approved AMCs. Initial Class 1 can only be issued by an AMC; renewals may in some cases be conducted by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME).

Validity: 12 months for applicants under 40 (for single-pilot commercial air transport carrying passengers); 6 months over 40.

Class 2: standard PPL

Class 2 is the standard medical for PPL(A), PPL(H), and related ratings. It is less restrictive than Class 1 but still requires an assessment by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME). You cannot self-declare or see a GP — it must be a CAA-approved AME.

What Class 2 screens for is broadly similar to Class 2: cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, and visual standards, though the specific thresholds differ from Class 1.

Validity:

• Under 40: 60 months (5 years) for private non-commercial operations
• 40–49: 24 months (2 years)
• 50–69: 12 months (1 year)
• 70+: 6 months

In the UK post-Brexit, the CAA follows these EASA-derived validity periods.

What happens if you have a medical condition?

AMEs can issue with limitations (e.g. "VFR only", "valid with corrective lenses") or refer you to an AMC for assessment. Conditions that would have historically meant disqualification are often now manageable. The CAA has a dedicated team for complex medical cases — it is worth contacting them before assuming the worst.

LAPL medical: the lighter-touch option

The LAPL medical is designed for holders of the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. It is less intensive than Class 2 and can be conducted by a General Medical Practitioner (GMP) — your GP — as well as by an AME, provided the GP has been briefed on LAPL medical standards.

The LAPL medical uses a declaration-based system from age 40 onward, with a GP assessment. It is cheaper and more accessible than Class 2.

Validity:

• Under 40: 60 months (5 years)
• 40–49: 24 months
• 50+: 12 months

Key limitation: The LAPL medical only supports LAPL privileges. If you hold a PPL, you need at least a Class 2 to exercise PPL privileges — the LAPL medical is not interchangeable with Class 2 for PPL operations.

The OML and OSL — "Operational Multi-pilot Limitation"

One specific Class 1 provision worth knowing about: pilots over 60 who have a Class 1 medical can still fly commercially as PIC, but only in a multi-crew environment — the OML (Operational Multi-pilot Limitation). This is an EASA-specific provision that does not apply to private operations.

Can you fly on an expired medical?

No. Flying with an expired medical certificate, or concealing a condition that would affect certification, is not just an enforcement risk — it potentially invalidates your insurance and could have serious legal consequences in the event of an incident.

A logbook that tracks your medical class and expiry date, and shows it in the same view as your licence currency, ensures you never accidentally fly with an expired certificate.

Summary table

If you are flying purely for fun on a PPL, Class 2 is almost always the right answer unless you are considering moving to an LAPL in future.