Pregnancy

EASA Part-MED — regulatory position

EASA Part-MED §MED.B.045 Obstetrics and gynaecology (Annex IV, Class 2):

"Pregnancy shall constitute a cause for temporary unfitness."

A pregnant pilot is initially temporarily unfit. Fitness may be re-issued by the AME between end of week 12 and beginning of week 26 (Class 2: up to end of week 26) provided:

• the pregnancy is uncomplicated;
• a gynaecological assessment is available;
• (Class 1) multi-pilot operations only; flight exercises avoid extreme physical strain.

After week 26 fitness is again suspended; it returns 6 weeks postpartum on medical confirmation (AMC1 MED.B.045).

Physiological considerations

Haemodynamics. Plasma volume ~+40 %, Hb concentration falls (dilutional anaemia) — reduced O₂ reserve at altitude.

Nausea / vomiting. Especially first trimester; cockpit vibration, heat, fuel smell worsen symptoms.

Abdomen. From ~week 24 seating/harness issues, restricted rudder reach.

Hypoxia. The fetus is sensitive to maternal hypoxia. Prolonged exposure >10,000 ft without O₂ is not recommended.

Radiation. At PPL altitudes cosmic radiation per flight hour is very low (ground-level to FL100 <1 µSv/h); ICRP 84 does not consider this a risk at PPL exposure levels.

Recommendation

Early notification of the AME is essential because MED.A.020 requires self-grounding on awareness of decreased fitness — a pregnancy not yet processed in the medical pipeline is a "decrease in medical fitness".