ABSTRACT
ICAO has 184 contracting states; the UK is one. Each of these states exercises its sovereignty by issuing national regulations for aviation, including medical requirements for licensing. So does the UK. ICAO’s international standards (see below) are minimum requirements which all contracting states shall respect, but all states are free to set higher national standards as they like. Actually, a state may set a lower national standard too, if it so wishes, provided it informs ICAO of this difference. These are the international minimum requirements but a would-be pilot may, depending on his nationality or where he lives, have to meet somewhat higher medical requirements in order to obtain a pilot’s licence.
