Welcome to Beehive Aviation Medicals in West Sussex

About Dr Philip Polwin

Dr Philip Polwin MB BS, UK CAA approved Aeromedical Examiner (AME) No 291469G

Dr Polwin graduated from the Royal London Hospital in 1978. He trained in aviation medicine at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in 1993. He was a GP in Billingshurst, West Sussex until 2014 but now works only as an AME.

He now has his own Aviation Practice in the historic Beehive Building at Gatwick.

As a keen aviator himself, holding a PPL since 1992, Dr Polwin continues to fly on a regular basis enjoying blue sky and sunshine flying and gentleman’s aerobatics in a Robin 2160.

Attending Your Appointment

For UK medicals after 31/03/2021, please ensure you have completed your application on the CAA Portal and paid the CAA fee to allow me to progress your medical.

YOU MUST BRING:

PHOTO I.D (PASSPORT OR DRIVING LICENCE) AND CURRENT OR LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

If you wear glasses, your glasses with a recent optician’s prescription. Be prepared to remove contact lenses. If you have a significant distance correction, eg 3 dioptre or more, please read CAA medical standards visual section as you may need to download a Med 162 form for your optician to complete.

Information

• Ample FREE parking just pull up to the barrier and press call button for entry. DONT SCAN THE QR CODE.
• Only 5 minutes from Gatwick Airport
• A fast, friendly and complete service for Class 1 renewals, Class 2 initials and renewals, ATCO, LAPL & Cabin Crew medicals
• Examination covers all medical parameters, including comprehensive eyesight tests. See detailed description of the test below
• Prompt service with examinations (approx. 1 hour duration) normally carried out within one week.
• For FAA medicals click on this link www.gatwickmedical.com (opens in a new window)

CHAPERONE POLICY

All clients are entitled to a chaperone being present during the examination. If you wish to have a chaperone and a suitable person is unable to accompany you to the examination you must let me know in advance so arrangements can be made .Please note you will not be required to remove any underwear for this examination.

HELP

If you have a medical or eye condition that may mean you do not reach the required standards go to the CAA Medical department web site for further information.

More about the Initial Class 2 (private pilot) Medical Examination

You should be fit, have reasonable eyesight and hearing, and have no current or previous illness which might interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges of a private pilot’s licence.

The examination will take about one hour and is divided into a number of parts:

• Medical History – a series of questions about any previous illnesses. You will be asked if there is any major illness in your past, and you will need to bring any reports about these from your family doctor. Appendicitis or a broken arm is not regarded as a major illness.
• Physical Examination – a general check that all is functioning correctly. This will cover lungs, heart, blood pressure, stomach, limbs and nervous system. Hearing – using a normal conversational voice 2 metres behind you, you should be able to hear this in each ear separately. Audiology is available for Class 1 and instrument rated Class 2.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – this measures the electrical impulses passing through your heart. It can show disorders of the heart rhythm or of the conduction of the impulses, and sometimes it can show a lack of blood supplying the heart muscle. Occasionally changes on an ECG require further investigation. A report from a cardiologist and further tests (for example an exercise ECG) may need to be done and will incur additional charges. Lung Function Test (peak flow) – this tests your ability to expel air rapidly from your lungs. It is sometimes tested if you have had any respiratory problems, eg asthma.
• Haemoglobin Blood Test – this is a finger prick blood test which measures the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. A low haemoglobin is called anaemia and will need further investigation.
• Urine Test – you will be asked to provide a sample of urine, so remember to attend for examination with a full bladder. This tests for sugar (diabetes), protein or blood in the urine.