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Class 5 Medical Review feedback published??

Via Oz Flying:

CASA publishes Class 5 Medical Feedback

11 December 2025



CASA this week published industry feedback collected as part of the Class 5 self-declared medical review, which is considering the future of restrictions applied when the standard was introduced in February 2024.

The consultation period opened on 24 June and closed 14 July 2025, with feedback from many of the 164 respondents favouring removing or modifying the imposed limitations.

"The purpose of the Class 5 medical self-declaration scheme review was to evaluate the safety outcomes, people's experience with the application process and the medical and operational limitations, specifically whether respondents had any safety or risk-based information to suggest that the limitations could be adjusted," CASA states.

"Feedback received has undergone a qualitative assessment as to whether any safety or risk-based information has been provided that needs to be considered."

Limitations up for discussion under the Class 5 review include:

• MTOW must be 2000 kg or less
  
• VFR by day only
  
• no IFR
  
• must not operate above 10,000 feet AMSL
  
• no more than two people on board
  
• no aerobatics
  
• no formation flying.
  

CASA says that respondents who were happy with the 2000 kg MTOW described it as "reasonable and fair", noting that many respondents who objected did so without supplying rationale. 

Well-known aviation advocate Sandy Reith was one of those that called for an MTOW increase for Class 5, suggesting it should be raised to 2722 kg to match the USA's BasicMed.

"I think I’ve shown previously that there’s anomalies in the 2000 kg limit," he said in his published response, "for example the twin engine Cessna 337 and Piper Seneca series where the early models fall below 2000 kg and the later ones just above.

"As far as speed is concerned there are numbers of of twin and single engine ‘complex’ aircraft below 2000 kg that are capable of cruising speeds between 160 and 200 kt or just as fast and ‘complex’ as heavier types that would be captured in the 2722 weight range.

"I submit that the present conditions allow more complex and fast aircraft that the limit was supposed to address, and that experience now shows no risk factors that would preclude raising the limit."

Many respondents expressed strong support for increasing the number of people on board to four, whilst there was little support for removing the altitude restriction.

Feedback on aerobatics revealed an industry appetite for allowing some manoeuvres that applied no more than 4 g and were not low-level.
In general, respondents believed the limitations on NVFR and IFR could be removed, although there was strong support for putting mitigators in place such as a safety pilot or eye tests. Others thought the currency requirements were enough to ensure safe operations under Class 5.

Formation flying received wide support, particularly given the experience of Recreational Aviation Australia, which allows formation flying on a self-declared medical.

SAAA president Myles Breitkreutz said formation flying discipline would act as a risk mitigator for pilots flying on Class 5 medicals.

"Formation flying isn't a spur of the moment, again the endorsement training is highly regulated, and the understanding of pre-formation briefings are acknowledged," he said.

"This is where any impairments would be highlighted by their peers or fellow formation pilots. Formation flying is carried out in a strict regulated controlled manner and briefings of understanding actions carried out and is a true recreational activity."

CASA also asked the industry if pilots flying on a Class 5 medical should have access to controlled airspace, which was strongly supported, with most respondents citing safety as a reason for allowing it.

The Class 5 medical review is now with the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), which will make recommendations to CASA.

CASA has said in the past that the results of the Class 5 review will be used to inform the Class 4 standard, which will require a GP medical rather than a DAME medical.

A full consultation review and published responses are on the CASA Consultation Hub.

Australian Flying Editor-at-Large Steve Hitchen is a member of the Class 5 Technical Working Group.

MTF...P2 

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