[Peetwo]

 From Ben Morgan CEO AOPA Australia...

AOPA Proposed Policy on Class 2 
Private Pilot Medical Certification.

CALL TO ACTION.


Valued AOPA Members,

Over the past year aviation regulators in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (US) and New Zealand (NZ) have all moved to reform their medical requirements for Private Pilots License holders, following extensive evidence based assessment and review.

These reforms have been heralded by the global aviation community and are expected to breathe essential life back into the general aviation economies of each respective country.

AOPA Australia over the past five years has received thousands of telephone calls and emails from private pilots, all calling for broad reform of Australia’s Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification system.  Our membership have demonstrated that a high number of Australian private pilots are being subjected to unfair and unreasonable medical assessments by CASA AVMED which has removed fit and healthy pilots from Australia’s general aviation community and subjected thousands of pilots to unnecessary delays and expense regarding medical assessment.

In consideration of our membership feedback and moves by international regulators, AOPA Australia has produced a clear Proposed Policy position on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification - to which we have attached to this email and included below.

The AOPA proposed policy on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification is important to the future of Australia's general aviation industry and if implemented will serve to reconnect thousands of perfectly healthy pilots who have been unfairly discriminated by the existing CASA AVMED system.

This vital reform will dramatically reduce licensing costs to industry and will remove unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and red-tape that have contributed to the serious decline in general aviation pilots in Australia, which based on CASA’s own data amounts to some 8,000+ pilots exiting our industry (see chart below).




AOPA’s policy will help kick-start and re-invigorate private flying activity within the general aviation industry, which will result in increasing demand for the varying support services whilst creating valuable jobs and opportunities across the country.

In the recently published CASA Stakeholder Relationship Health Report (click here to download), the surveyed industry stakeholders made clear their sincere dissatisfaction with regard to both CASA’s decision making and performance.  Industry has sent a loud and clear message that we cannot continue with the current system.

AOPA understands that its members care deeply about general aviation and are willing to stand up and fight for what matters to them and is now calling on our entire membership to help make our Proposed Policy on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification a reality.


BE PART OF CHANGE.

STEP 1 – Download and review the AOPA Proposed Policy

Attached to this email is the AOPA Proposed Policy on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification, which you can download and review.

Should you wish to discuss the policy, 
please feel free to contact the AOPA offices on (02) 9791 9099


STEP 2 – Download and send a letter of support to the Minister

Attached to this email is a letter which you can send to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester MP, showcasing your support for the AOPA Proposed Policy on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification.  Be sure to send this letter to as many aviation friends and colleagues as possible!


STEP 2 – Muster signatures for the AOPA Petition!

Attached to this email is the AOPA Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification Petition, which you can download and have your aviation friends and colleagues sign.  AOPA is calling on each and every one of our members to download this important petition and to muster as many signatures as possible!  Help AOPA and our industry send a clear message to the government.

IMPORTANT - Once you have mustered as many signatures as possible, you will need to send the originals to AOPA.  We cannot submit anything other than the original documents.  Please send the original petition documents to;

Attention:  Mr Benjamin Morgan
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
PO BOX 26, Georges Hall NSW 2198, Australia.

The petition documents must be returned to AOPA in original copy, no later than the 30th September 2016.  Once received, AOPA will collate the received Petitions into a master document and present it in person to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, The Hon Darren Chester MP.

This is our opportunity to send a big message, so please ensure you email as many friends and colleagues as possible - we all need each others support on this vital call for reform.

 
Or via Oz Flying...

AOPA issues Call to Action on Class 2 Medicals
AOPA has called on members to raise a petition demanding the government adopt the AOPA position on Class 2 medicals.
Read more

Update: Although it has been very quiet in recent weeks(??) from AOPA Oz's normally outspoken CEO Ben Morgan, apparently (along with the Prez and others) he is fronting up today, alongside reps from the SAAA at Aviation House for joint discussions on Class 2 medicals: 

AOPA & SAAA TO MEET WITH CASA
ON CLASS 2 MEDICAL REFORM.

Valued AOPA Members & Industry Supporters,

Representatives of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA) will be attending a meeting with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on Wednesday 5th October to discuss progress on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Certification reform.

Over the past month the AOPA has received an incredible number of supporting letters and petition documents from general aviation organisations, aircraft owners and pilots, clearly showcasing industry’s strong support for Class 2 reform.  Please keep this support going and send a clear message to government that it is time for immediate change.

Both the AOPA and SAAA are standing firm on the call for Class 2 reform, which would see thousands of general aviation pilots return to our industry - free from the unfair AVMED discrimination which has crippled our industry.

The meeting will take place at Aviation House, Canberra from 1pm to 2:30pm, Wednesday 5th October 2016 and will be attended by;

General Aviation Industry Representatives;

Mr Marc De Stoop - President, AOPA
Mr Benjamin Morgan - Executive Director, AOPA
Mr Rob Lawrie - President, SAAA
Mr Richard Talbot - Treasurer, SAAA

Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Executive Team;

Mr Rob Walker - Stakeholder Engagement Group Manager, CASA
Mr Graeme Crawford - Aviation Group Manager, CASA
Ms Tracey Frey - Sustainability Group Manager, CASA


Following the meeting AOPA and SAAA will release to industry an overview of the meeting and the discussions so that you may all understand the progress which is being made to date.

In the meantime, AOPA and the SAAA are encouraging as many industry participants as possible to send a clear message to the Australian government that it is time for change.

Attached to this email are three important documents;

1.  AOPA Proposed Policy on Class 2 Private Pilot Medical Reform
2.  AOPA Letter to Minister Mr Darren Chester MP
3.  AOPA Petition

I call on you all to sign the letter of support to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Darren Chester MP and have your friends and colleagues sign the AOPA petition today!

Now is the time for positive change for our industry, stand with AOPA as we work towards kick-starting Australia’s general aviation economy, unlocking our industry’s potential for growth.

Best regards,

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Executive Director - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

IMPORTANT - Once you have mustered as many signatures as possible, you will need to send the originals to AOPA.  We cannot submit anything other than the original documents.  Please send the original petition documents to;

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
PO BOX 26, Georges Hall NSW 2198, Australia.

MTF....P2