The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today confirmed that they will be changing their rules to allow HIV-positive people enter into training to become pilots.
The change comes after a HIV-positive man's story of being denied his dream to become a pilot gained international attention.
The Glasgow man, named as "Anthony", was reportedly denied a training position with EasyJet due to his HIV status. Anthony said he was "denied his childhood dream" of becoming a pilot, all because of what he believed to be HIV discrimination by aviation authorities.
The CAA allegedly told Anthony that it was bound by the rules of the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), which decreed that people with HIV had to have a medical certificate with an addition called an "operational multi-crew limitation", in order to enter into training. However, the only way to gain this addition was to already have a commercial pilot's license - which meant that all HIV-positive persons were effectively locked out from the profession.
reports that since the release of Anthony's story the CAA fell under enormous public pressure to change their discriminatory rules - and finally, they have.
Activists and equality campaigners today celebrated the historic decision which was first announced by CAA chief executive Andrew Haines and confirmed in the House of Commons by transport secretary Chris Grayling.
"I'm grateful that it's happened and very conscious of the fact that it's not just me, it's anyone with HIV that can now become a pilot - it's monumental. It's a huge change and I just hope that it triggers action not just in the UK but in the rest of Europe. Anyone who has felt restricted by the condition, who's in my situation, can now follow their dreams.
"It means that I can now focus on becoming a pilot. It was the last remaining barrier that has now been removed, so I'm going to start discussions as to how I can take up my place with EasyJet and start as soon as possible. This change means I can now realise my dreams."
The CAA statement is here in full:
"The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 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.
"In relation to HIV, we have made representations to EASA, which is the governing body responsible for medical standards, and asked them to undertake the necessary rulemaking activity and associated research without delay, that we hope will lead to a permanent change to the current regulations.
"We recognise that this research will take time and we will continue to offer our full support to this work in any way we can. In the meantime, the CAA will issue initial Class 1 Medical certificates with a restriction to multi-pilot operations to applicants wishing to become commercial pilots, subject to the applicants passing their Class 1 Medical assessment."
