CITY MAN WINS BATTLE TO STOP CHECKS ON HIV POSITIVE PILOTS
Landmark ruling after eight-year campaign
A Stoke-on-trent man living with HIV has won a long-running battle to allow pilots with the virus to fly without ‘complex’ restrictions.
James Bushe has led a campaign to bring in landmark changes to the aviation industry which came into effect this week.
Previously, those who disclosed they had HIV were automatically required to undergo cognitive testing to assess their mental abilities – a complex and expensive process.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority’s new guidance, developed by James with the support of HIV charities, says there is a much lower risk of infected pilots suffering conditions that could impair their ability to fly safely if they have a timely diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy.
The regulator has also launched a six-month amnesty to enable aviation workers with undisclosed HIV to correct their medical records without facing enforcement action.
James, who is originally from the Potteries, first learned to fly small aircraft at the age of 15 – before he could even drive a car.
But his hopes of becoming a fullyfledged commercial pilot were dashed when he was diagnosed as HIV positive in 2014.
When he went to get his pilot medical check in 2017, the 32-yearold was refused because of his HIV status. Initially sharing his story anonymously, he later ‘came out’ and spoke to presenters on BBC’S Breakfast show on Tuesday.
He said: “It’s a world-first where if you are a person living with HIV and you want to become a pilot or an air traffic controller, you can and you can get that medical without any restrictions whatsoever.
“It means there is no job in this industry that I or any other pilot can’t do and what I hope now is that this inspires other individuals living in other countries with HIV to go to their own regulator to say ‘hey we can do this too.’”
CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty said the UK will ‘continue to lead the way in supporting pilots living with HIV to fly safely and pursue their careers and dreams’.
He went on: “Recent medical advances mean that if someone with HIV effectively manages their condition, they should be able to live a near-normal life. Our new guidance recognises this.”
Ian Green, chief executive of HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Outdated restrictions were holding pilots living with HIV back, but now the Civil Aviation Authority’s policies and practices will reflect the reality of living with HIV today.”