How to pass your medical

Get in Early!

If you have a licence, bring it with you.

Don’t leave your medical until the last minute. Unless otherwise prohibited by CASA, a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME) can extend your certificate for two months. Remember – you cannot fly without a valid certificate.

If you know that CASA requires additional tests or reports before it will consider your recertification, make sure that you start the renewal process as soon as possible so that the DAME can get the tests and reports quickly and save delays.

If CASA sends you a letter telling you that you need certain tests carried out, it is foolish not to give the letter to the DAME, whose endearing characteristics probably don’t include clairvoyance.

If you are having your first examination, you must bring photographic identification.


Don’t have your medical if you are sick.

If you need to have an audiogram, do not have it if you have a head cold.

If you have wax (cerumen) in your ears we are happy to wash it out first.

Audiograms are best done when you have not been subject to loud noise. However for pilots this is a counsel of perfection.

If you are to have a blood test, avoid tea, coffee, decongestant tablets, all caffeine containing beverages, tobacco and high sugar meals from midnight before.

• A high sugar meal can cause false urine glucose indications.
  
  
• Caffeine and decongestant medications can cause ECG abnormalities which, although of little relevance, may result in CASA wanting further investigations.
  
  
• Try and come to the examination without body jewellery. Modern electrocardiographs are very sensitive to tiny changes in body electrical fields and potential differences.
  
  
• Fasting is not necessary but if you have a borderline high sugar and lipid reading, it is a wise precaution.
  
  
• If since your last examination you have had surgery or have been hospitalised or had a serious illness, bring with you documents that deal with the problem, such as a hospital discharge letter or medical certificates/reports. CASA will want to know about these documents.
  
  
• If you are female and menstruating, you may be asked to provide later another urine sample, to avoid contamination with blood.
  

Don’t hide conditions or medication from the examiner.

CASA has a remarkably large database of medical information on pilots.

Illegal drugs produce changes in the appearance of certain parts of the body and a doctor can easily tell if a person is using them.

Be aware, too, that CASA can have access to information about individual drug use because every prescription written by every doctor in Australia ends up in a Medicare or state government central database.

The importance of being truthful is that if you are ever involved in an incident or accident and are found to have withheld information, there will be serious insurance and legal implications.


The DAME is not out to fail you.

Come to the examination in a relaxed frame of mind. The DAME will do everything he can to pass you.

If any abnormality is picked up every effort will be made to repeat the exam or test to get it right.

Even if the DAME is satisfied that you are fit and well, it may be that CASA will want further information and will write to you.

Do not worry if they do – bring the letter to the DAME so that the problem can be cleared up as soon as possible.


The medical examination.

Your height and weight will be taken and you will have to provide a fresh urine sample at the time of your attendance. Do not bring a urine sample with you.

All your body systems will be examined with particular attention to eyesight and general ocular health.

You will NOT be subject to personally embarrassing or intrusive procedures.

We do not routinely examine genital areas (or breasts in females) unless you specifically request this.

(Testicular cancer is not rare in young men, and breast cancer is a major curse for women of all ages.)

Telephone (08) 8297 2399

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