HIV-positive pilot from Stoke-on-Trent wants MoD rule change

Mr Bushe first applied to become a commercial pilot in 2017 after his diagnosis, however he had to challenge the CAA before he was able to begin his training.

Mr Bushe became the first newly-qualified pilot in Europe living with HIV.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke he said: “To be able to become a pilot and realise that dream, it’s meant that HIV hasn’t won.

“In 2025, I’m going to be working with the MoD and the defence secretary, Luke Pollard, to understand in more detail what their concerns are.”

Mr Bushe said the UK CAA was the “most-progressive regulator in the world” and now wanted to help implement the same model in the military and in other countries.

“There’s absolutely no reason for these barriers to be in place.”

He added: “This is safe and we shouldn’t be preventing anyone who is HIV positive from realising the dreams they have in the military.”

The MoD said: “Ministers are looking very closely at this issue and the Minister for the Armed Forces recently commissioned a review into HIV policies relating to aircrew.”