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U-turn as HIV positive man granted chance to train as pilot

This news post is about 6 years old
 

The man had initially faced missing out on his dream job as a result of safety rules

An HIV positive man has been told he can train as a pilot, after a U-turn by aviation bosses.

The man was refused a medical certificate needed to obtain a commercial licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) last month, having being offered a training place by Easyjet.

However the authority has now reversed its decision after re-evaluating its guidance.

The CAA initially said the problem stemmed from European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations which state that pilots with certain medical conditions - including being HIV positive, organ transplantation or having type 1 diabetes - are only allowed to fly with a co-pilot.

However, after a review of the rules, the CAA said it was satisfied this should not prevent an HIV positive person obtaining a medical certificate to begin training for multi-pilot operations.

The man, who has asked not to be named, has said that he was overwhelmed and elated at the news.

Nathan Sparling, head of policy and campaigning at HIV Scotland, said: "This is a massive win for people living with HIV who want to become pilots.

"It is because this man came forward with his story that the CAA is now taking a more sensible and realistic approach.

"The decision brings the UK's aviation policy up to date with medical evidence that recognises the important advances in treatment for HIV, whilst maintaining the same high level of safety you can expect for air travel.

"We welcome the move that provides an immediate temporary solution whilst the necessary work is completed to ensure a permanent rule change."

CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said: "The UK Civil Aviation Authority is committed to being one of the most progressive aviation authorities in the world.

"We have often led aviation regulatory changes that have enabled pilots with medical conditions to keep flying, most recently in our ground-breaking work on insulin-treated diabetes.

"We have also been responsible for writing international guidelines on pilots living with HIV and have been promoting the need for changes to the current regulations regarding the restrictions applicable to pilots with certain medical conditions, including HIV."