What to expect from an airside driving medical
Before you can be issued with an airside driving permit you will need to pass an airside driving medical to ensure you are fit and healthy enough to do the job safely. This examination is required for all personnel who will be driving vehicles within the perimeter designated as airside. This can include the runways, access areas and outer roads.
Airside driving medicals exist to ensure that basic medical requirements are met. These requirements have been set by occupational health providers together with the Department for Transport (DfT) and are based on the risks involved with driving in the airport environment.
As there are a whole host of vehicles used in airside operations, a medical is required for anyone wanting a permit to drive within the airside environment, this includes class 1 (less than 3.5 tonnes) or class 2 vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes).
Who carries out airside driving medicals?
Your airside driving medical will be carried out by an occupational health professional, who is experienced in medical examinations for the aviation industry. At Heathrow Medical our medicals for airside drivers are compliant with Airport Operators Association (AOA) standards, which approximate DVLA Group 2 standards.
How often do you need an airside driving medical?
Depending on the operator you work for, you may need to undergo additional risk assessments and occupational health checks, but as a basic requirement, the airside driving medical will generally need to be renewed every 3 years.
The requirements for airside medical examinations may also depend on the occupational age limits of the vehicle you are driving, your current state of health and whether you have had a driving accident or incident at work.
There may also be additional medical requirements depending on the airport that you are working at, so you will need to check his beforehand to see if any further tests will be required in addition to the airside driving medical.
What will be included in the medical examination?
The exact format of your medical will depend upon several factors including whether this is your first medical and if you have any existing health conditions. In general, you can expect your airside driving medical to check that you meet the required standards for:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Colour perception
- Overall health – such as blood pressure
It is also a good opportunity to discuss general health advice, particularly in relation to keeping you fit for your job.
If you will shortly be embarking on your airside operations career or need a renewal airside driving medical please contact Heathrow Medical on 020 8528 2633 or click here to contact us.