Selection requirements

GENERAL

What kind of flight training does Executive Flight Academy offer? Private Pilot Licence (PPL license) Night Qualification (NQ) Airline transport pilot (frozen ATPL license) Commercial Pilot (CPL license) Instrument Rating(IR) Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) Rating VFR en IFR Multi Crew Coordination Course(MCC) Flight instructor Ratings (FI, CRI, IRI) English Language Proficiency Endorsement (LPE) Typeratings Airbus, Boeing Conversions from FAA/ICAO to EASA licenses

On request: Bush-flying, Mountain rating. Aerobatics

What are the minimal requirements regarding the preliminary education with a view to the airline transport course ? HAVO / MBO4 level or foreign equivalent with mathematics B and physics. Furthermore proficient English is exptected. International students can also look at IDW (Diploma Recognition Information Centre) Ph: 079-3217930 or www.idw.nl

What are the minimum requirements regarding the preliminary education to obtain a PPL? none

I haven’t had the aforementioned preliminary education, what now? When an airline assessment shows that a student has sufficient talent and demonstrates the proper motivation during the study, we can offer a so-called “bridging course” (Mathematics and Physics) so we can prepare the candidate during the PPL trajectory of the airline transport pilot training for the theoretical study of the Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) .

Are there also women who start the training? Of course! Roughly 20% of the students are women.

Is the training to become an airline transport pilot difficult? When you get through the assessment quite nicely and you have the right motivation it is very doable.

What are the age limits? One needs to be at least 17 years old to obtain a private pilot license or PPL. Next we recommend that people who aspire an airline job do not start the training after the age of 34.  For other General Aviation sectors in aviation (such as private aviation en flight instruction) there isn’t really an age limit.

What do I have to do to start? To start a PPL we plan an intake interview and possibly a test flight.

Where can I have my medical assessment done? There are several options in the Netherlands and Belgium, we can help you to find the most suitable one.

I’m wearing glasses, is that a problem? Wearing glasses is not a problem for airline transport pilots, but it is for fighter pilots. Nonetheless, a correction of maximum +/- 6 is allowed. Color blindness is also a problem. Note: Find out which laser treatments are permitted and which ones are not.

I am 2.01m tall, is that acceptable? Your length needs to be between 157.5cm and 203cm. If you are taller than 190.5cm, the length of your legs shouldn’t exceed 130cm.

When can I start my flight training at Executive Flight? Whenever you want to! No waiting time.

How long does it take to become an airline transport pilot? Between 18 and 24 months, depending on the chosen training location, discipline, motivation, monthly budget and weather circumstances.

Where will I be living? Either at home or in one of our affordable accommodations nearby the Belgian-Dutch border for a couple of days in the week. Renting a room is also an option of course.

How can I pay for all this? There used to be several banks and agencies that were willing to lend money for flight training. However these days those options are no longer available due to the financial crisis. Therefore we recommend to continue to work during the training and borrow the money from family and friends or have the mortgage potentially raised.

MEDICAL

General examination information If you have a medical history, always first consult ExecutiveFlight before you fill out forms and contact any aeromedical institute.

Length Length between 157,5 cm and 203 cm. If you are taller than 190,5 cm, the length of your leg should not exceed 130 cm

Can I have an aeromedical examination without a pilot license? “Everybody who is 16 years old or older can have the examination done and –if he/she wishes to do so one can request a medical certificate. For that you do not need a pilot license yet. In some cases an examination at a younger age is also possible. When you intend to follow a flight training we recommend to do an examination beforehand to see if you meet the medical requirements. ”

What is the purpose of the medical examination? “The purpose of the aeromedical examination is to see if your state of health renders a risk to flight safety or not. So it is a safety assessment to be performed by order of the government. Therefore it is the government who determines the examination program.

Any health condition can change due to illness or accident. It can also occur that after years an infirmity comes to light that was not known yet. Examinations should therefore be repeated regularly and occur more frequently as one gets older.

If you are aeromedically fit in accordance with the regulations you will receive a “medische verklaring” (= medical certificate) ”

When can I have a medical examination? “If you already have a medical certificate and you want to renew it in time, it is wise to have the examination done within 45 days before the expiry date of the medical certificate. According to the EASA regulations, the effective date of the new certificate will be equal to the end date of the old. If you have your examination done sooner than those 45 days, the new medical certificate will be valid from that date of inspection. If the inspection takes place after the expiry of the old medical certificate, the new date also applies from the date of inspection.

We recommend always checking your medical certificate to see if any mistakes were made.”

Am I summoned for my medical examination? It remains your responsibility to monitor the expiration date of your medical certificate and to make an appointment

Can I extend an obligatory inspection with additional examinations? e.g. for prostate cancer? “Depending on the selected inspection institute you can extend the search at your discretion. Please tell us what your needs are when booking your inspection. If the results of such additional studies were to prove an abnormality, the examiner might have to report this. ”

Should I report the use of drugs during inspection? Yes,  you should report all the medications you are taking to the medical examiner. It does not matter whether you have received these medicines on prescription, or bought them yourselves in a drugstore or pharmacy. Also consider medications you have bought abroad, with or without prescription. The contraceptive pill is also a “medicine”.

Is there a waiting list? Depending on the chosen institute 0 days to 2-3 weeks. History shows us that it is wise to schedule the appointment in time (ie at least four weeks in advance), otherwise there is a chance that they have no room on the day you prefer. Note: Do not fly solo without a medical certificate.

What do I bring on the day of inspection? What you should bring: – your passport as proof of identity; a driver’s license is not a valid proof of identity – your pilot’s license and medical certificate if you already have one – the Aeromedical forms that you will receive, completed – your glasses, reading glasses and spare glasses (even if you have contact lenses) and, if you are being examined for class 2, also the glasses prescription from the optician or ophthalmologist.

Report yourself at the front desk and receive your personal file with your inspection program. What’s on the program depends on the license type, your age and what has been studied during the last inspection.

You then go through the various ‘inspection stations’ for the examination of eyes, urine, etc., then you will go to the medical examiner.

The medical examiner examines all data results, conducts physical examination and determine whether you can qualify for the issue of a (new) medical certificate, or whether it requires additional research or to request new data.

How long does a medical examination take? A first inspection takes 3 to 4 hours (Class 1 and Class 2) A re-examination will take 1.5 to 2 hours (Class 1 and Class 2), depending on what is on the inspectiont program. The content of the examination depends on the type of license, the age, and the inspection that has taken place the last time.

What happens during the inspection? The content of the program varies. What happens depends on the type of examination, age, and the inspection that took place the last time. If previously a disease or disorder has been detected , this may also play a role. The examination program may include the following components: – Anamnesis (medical history) – Anthropometry (height, weight) – eyesight Research (= vision) + optometry – hearing Research – Electroencephalography(EEG) – Electrocardiography (ECG) – Echocardiography – Lung function testing – Blood and urine tests – General physical examination

The program is completed under the responsibility of a certified aeromedical health practicitioner (Authorized Medical Examiner = AME); he also carries out the inspection, ie determines whether the requirements of EASA are met.

Because of these regulations, results of an extensive medical examination conducted elsewhere are unusable.

When will I receive my medical certificate? History shows that it usually takes approximately 15 days before the Medical Certificate is issued, calculated from the date of examination. If the test can not be completed immediately because data are still needed, it may take longer. If it is a first (so-called. initial) inspection, it takes longer for the examination to be completed and before the medical certificate can be provided. In this case one must count on 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I also have myself examined for other non-European countries? Yes, this is possible at Schiphol. Except for all EASA countries (European countries including the Netherlands) you can have yourself examined for: USA (FAA) Australia New Zealand Japan and soon South Africa

EYES

Wearing glasses is not a problem for airline transport pilots, only for fighter pilots. However, the maximum permitted correction is +/- 5 or 6. Color blindness can also be a problem.

I’m thinking to do a cornea laser treatment. Can I fly afterwards? The pilot who has undergone a laser treatment of the cornea is, at an initial test for Class 1 and 2 license, only approved under certain conditions. It is wise to be well aware of these conditions before any surgery. At a re-inspection one can also be approved under certain conditions. In any case one cannot fly for three months. And after surgery, the results must meet requirements through an eye test. For that reason the treatment for pilots is currently not recommended.

Can I fly with glasses? Yes, under certain conditions, the pilot may wear glasses. The rules are different for Class 1 and Class 2 licenses.

What are the requirements for seeing colors? Both Class 1 and Class 2 inspections need to show that seeing colors appears to be completely intact. In Class 2 examinations this requirement may be waived through a restriction.

How does one determine seeing colors? Seeing colors is tested by means of the ISHIHARA test. If the result is not good further investigation follows.

Can I have my eyes separately examined? Yes, and it can save you expenses and a disappointment if you do not have a license yet and you are at the beginning of training. For advice and any fees it is best to call us or mail us your question.

Are contact lenses allowed? Yes, one can wear ordinary contact lenses while flying (hard or soft) provided they are oxygen permeable. The use of so-called. ortho-keratotic lenses (which distort the cornea) are not allowed unless the government doctor makes an exception. The rules for the strength are the same as the glasses. The eye test should take place in the context of the inspection. The determining factor is not the strength of your lenses, but the strength of the lenses that are needed for the best possible (= maximum) vison. When doing the eye test ortho-keratotic lenses may not be worn for 3 weeks. Also, bifocal or multifocal lenses are not permitted. ”

HEARING

Can I fly with tubes in my ears? Yes, in principle grommets are not a problem for a pilot.

I do not hear well. What are the consequences? At the initial examination Class 1 and Class 2 for instrument rating (IR) a hearing test (audiogram) is conducted. At 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz one cannot have a hearing loss that is more than 20 dB, at 3000 Hz not more than 35 dB. When retesting, requirements are slightly lower. For a class 2 license without instrument rating only good speech intelligibility from 2 meters distance is required (with your back turned to the researcher) A hearing test is not required for Class 2 without IR. ”

MEDICINES

Can I fly on Viagra? It is inherent to the effect of Viagra that the blood vessels are affected. This applies not only to the penis, but also to other parts of the body. Therefore, this product is not to be used in conjunction with other blood vessel vasodilators (such as nitrates) are used and there are some known side effects. These include headaches and disorders in seeing colors; the latter is likely to be caused by changing a blood flow of the retina. The FAA says that one should not fly up to 6 hours after using Viagra, but the duration of the aftereffect is still insufficiently known. Therefore, it is safe to stick to a 12 hour period after using Viagra.

Should I report the use of medicine during inspection? Yes, you should report all the medications you are taking to the medical examiner. It does not matter whether you have received these medicines on prescription, or have bought them yourself in a drugstore or pharmacy. Also consider medications you have bought abroad, with or without a prescription. The contraceptive pill is also a “medicine”.

What medications can you actually do / not use when you fly? If the instructions on the label say that it can affect your driving ability, these medications may not be used by a pilot. Also, anticoagulants such as Sintrom, Sintrommitis, Acenocoumarol, etc. may not be used by pilots. When using new drugs (including antibiotics) one should not fly the first few days. After that they may fly again only if there are no side effects and you feel completely fit (it may be that the underlying disorder is reason for inaptitude). When the treatment is complete and there are no complaints anymore, you can just fly again. If in doubt, consult your medical examiner.

PREGNANCY

Can I fly when I am pregnant? As a pilot you may not fly as soon as it is known that you are pregnant. This applies to the entire pregnancy period. Under certain conditions the AMS (= Aeromedical Section of the Inspectorate for Transport and Water Management, Aviation Division) can give permission to fly, provided that it is within the first 26 weeks of pregnancy. After the pregnancy one may fly again when one is fully recovered from the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. A certificate from the doctor or midwife is necessary.FAQ – Aeromedical Institute Page 9 www.aeromed.nl

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

How much alcohol am I allowed to drink? Prior to or during the flight one cannot drink at all of course. The rule of thumb is “10 hours from bottle to throttle”, or; “Do not fly within 10 hours after the last drink. But this rule only applies to moderate alcohol use. A man is deemed to be a moderate drinker when one does not drink more than 19 glasses per week, spread over the whole week. Women are moderate drinkers if they do not drink more than 15 glasses per week. Restraint is needed, because the use of alcoholic beverages may have a long adtereffect, even if the alcohol itself is broken down.

TEETH

I have a dental prosthesis. Is that a reason for rejection? No, the use of a denture or other dental prosthesis are not a problem.

MISCELLANEOUS

I have had an epileptic seizure. Am I allowed to fly? The rules in this respect are very strict. One epileptic seizure is usually reason enough for rejection. At the initial examination for the Class 1 license an EEG (electroencephalogram) is always conducted. Ultimately, both elements are the basis for eligibility as a pilot.

I  suffer from colds. Can I fly with this? For a pilot who caught a cold, it is important that it can be “cleared”. This is to say, the nose is “open” and the passage between nose and middle ear is unobstructed. If you can not clear it, it is not wise to fly, because you’ll possible be encountering problems during climbing and descending (deafness and pain). You can consult a doctor in case of doubt.

Can I fly with asthmatic bronchitis or hay fever? If the lung function is good and the symptoms are highly treatable on little medication, a pilot can fly normally. In case of severe symptoms or for medication consult a doctor.

I don’t feel quite fit. What to do? The rules require that you do not fly when you don’t feel fit. If you are a professional pilot with a Class 1 license, please contact your employer and say you are not fit. Also, contact your home or company doctor for further advice. If in doubt, please consult one of our medical examiners. On this point please check the Arrangement Health Authorities, as referred to on the back of your medical certificate.

I have diabetes. Am I allowed to fly? No, except under strict conditions, which the medical examiner can explain to you. Flying with diabetes is only allowed for a pilot if the disease is well-controlled through diet and / or medication available as tablets. However, some preparations are not permitted. If the diabetes needs to be treated with insulin, flying is never allowed. ”