Courtesy Ben Morgan, AOPA Oz:
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Australia
April 11 at 10:27pm · Sydney, NSW ·
CLASS 2 MEDICAL CERTIFICATION - PILOTS SUBJECT TO AVMED AUDIT.
Mr Carmody,
I am writing to you on behalf of the pilots within our general aviation community who are subject to ‘CASA Audit’ with respect to their Class 2 medicals, seeking your assistance.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA Australia) commends CASA for recent reforms which have streamlined the issuance of Class 2 medicals for private pilots who have no prior medical concerns, however, we are concerned that pilots who are subject to ‘CASA audit’ are being unfairly discriminated and refused an opportunity to seek a fair and genuine review (external of CASA AVMED) of their fitness to fly.
The AOPA Australia identified during the Class 2 reform consultation process that a significant number of general aviation pilots whom AVMED have subjected to ‘CASA audit’ have simply migrated across to RAAus where they have continued to fly safely. The transference of ‘CASA audit’ pilots from general aviation to the RAAus demonstrates that these pilots pose no risk to aviation safety and identifies that AVMED’s past Class 2 medical assessments have been unnecessarily restrictive, prematurely grounding general aviation pilots who are otherwise fit-to-fly.
The AOPA Australia is calling on CASA to remove all AVMED audit restrictions/requirements and to encourage the pilot community to seek a new and fresh Class 2 medical assessment from their DAME, who is empowered (under your new reforms) to approve a medical certificate should they be satisfied with the applicant’s fitness-to-fly. For the pilots whom the DAME community do not consider fit-to-fly, they may be referred to CASA AVMED for review.
We believe our recommendation to be a balanced and fair proposal, providing the general aviation pilot community with a genuine opportunity for an independent (external to CASA AVMED) review and to be provided with a Class 2 medical should their DAME consider them fit-to-fly.
The AOPA Australia would like to meet with yourself and your team so that we may discuss the above proposal. If a suitable date and time could be provided, we shall be happy to travel and meet with you.
Thank you in advance and we look forward to speaking soon.
Yours Sincerely,
BENJAMIN MORGAN
Executive Director - AOPA Australia
NOT A MEMBER? JOIN TODAY | AOPA.COM.AU
And some Facebook comments...
MTF...P2
Ps Seems that there are a number of concerned members of AOPA banging away on their keyboards with Dear DPM emails...
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Australia
April 11 at 10:27pm · Sydney, NSW ·
CLASS 2 MEDICAL CERTIFICATION - PILOTS SUBJECT TO AVMED AUDIT.
Mr Carmody,
I am writing to you on behalf of the pilots within our general aviation community who are subject to ‘CASA Audit’ with respect to their Class 2 medicals, seeking your assistance.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA Australia) commends CASA for recent reforms which have streamlined the issuance of Class 2 medicals for private pilots who have no prior medical concerns, however, we are concerned that pilots who are subject to ‘CASA audit’ are being unfairly discriminated and refused an opportunity to seek a fair and genuine review (external of CASA AVMED) of their fitness to fly.
The AOPA Australia identified during the Class 2 reform consultation process that a significant number of general aviation pilots whom AVMED have subjected to ‘CASA audit’ have simply migrated across to RAAus where they have continued to fly safely. The transference of ‘CASA audit’ pilots from general aviation to the RAAus demonstrates that these pilots pose no risk to aviation safety and identifies that AVMED’s past Class 2 medical assessments have been unnecessarily restrictive, prematurely grounding general aviation pilots who are otherwise fit-to-fly.
The AOPA Australia is calling on CASA to remove all AVMED audit restrictions/requirements and to encourage the pilot community to seek a new and fresh Class 2 medical assessment from their DAME, who is empowered (under your new reforms) to approve a medical certificate should they be satisfied with the applicant’s fitness-to-fly. For the pilots whom the DAME community do not consider fit-to-fly, they may be referred to CASA AVMED for review.
We believe our recommendation to be a balanced and fair proposal, providing the general aviation pilot community with a genuine opportunity for an independent (external to CASA AVMED) review and to be provided with a Class 2 medical should their DAME consider them fit-to-fly.
The AOPA Australia would like to meet with yourself and your team so that we may discuss the above proposal. If a suitable date and time could be provided, we shall be happy to travel and meet with you.
Thank you in advance and we look forward to speaking soon.
Yours Sincerely,
BENJAMIN MORGAN
Executive Director - AOPA Australia
NOT A MEMBER? JOIN TODAY | AOPA.COM.AU
And some Facebook comments...
Quote:Jeremy Lee Sooooo well said..... the audit is a load or rubbish just to cost more money and time. My yearly medical is this year around $500 and I have nothing wrong haha great isn't it.
Ivan Tyson Spot on Ben. I am one of those pilots who are subject to CASA Audit but my specialist and DAME have for a number of years, been telling CASA that it is not necessary. It appears that once you are on their 'Audit List', it's nearly impossible to get off it.
Kyle Bury I am also one of those under CASA audit and have been for a number of years following an ear operation. CASA keep asking for a letter of progress from my specialist who advises all is ok and there will be no change other than normal deterioration, but they still persist with the audits.
They clearly won’t listen to or trust the advice of DAME’s or specialists...
Ian Hazeldene About time had 6 month fight to get medical at great cost. When this all started to un fold they decided to issue medical . No history of any medical issues.About time there was reform.
Fred Carter Well said. I am one of those pilots subject to an audit. I have Myeloma and CASA have determined that they won’t consider my fitness to fly for 12 months after my stem cell transplant. This is despite specialists saying that 3 months is adequate. CASA have refused to provide the clinical guidelines that they are using. They need to be held to account.
Scott McMullan Well bloody said. I sadly fall under that category for a garden weed allergy that has been diagnosed and treated and not had any symptoms for years, yet am still required to have 1 yearly medicals under AVMEDS direction (Took 18 months and ridiculous non required specialist appointments later). Sadly the cost has pushed me out of aviation altogether at this stage. If this proposal is accepted who knows, might even get my wings back. Keep up the great guys, Keep the pressure on.
David Scott Butler I am in this category as well. Just started my next round of, what my GP, DAME and other call unnecessary, tests & checks
Rob Shortridge I have heard that the 'Audit' is devolved to the DAME and only needs to be referred to AVMED if the DAME is uncomfortable making a decision in regard to the specific conditions. This would make sense as one sits across the table from the DAME and he is actually talking to you rather than someone making a decision on paperwork alone.
MTF...P2
Ps Seems that there are a number of concerned members of AOPA banging away on their keyboards with Dear DPM emails...
Quote:Dear Mr. McCormack,
Everyone in General Aviation:-
We are fed up to HERE with consultations, reviews, Parliamentary inquiries, Minister commissioned (expensive) investigations and lastly your predecessor Darren Chester’s BITRE report into what is as obvious as is the nose on your face.
The waste and shocking wasting of a perfectly good industry must stop.
CASA, a failed model of governance that’s made itself into a make work salary factory. The fee gouging independent Commonwealth corporate will never finish it’s project, 30 years still not finished, to rewrite the rules. The fees it charges would be a drop in the bucket compared to the loss of tax receipts and economic activity.
The latest tranche of unworkable strict liability criminal sanction rules (framed inappropriately as criminal against C’Wealth guidelines) are putting the finishing touches to the funeral of General Aviation in Australia.
We now are even having to import pilots from overseas. How mad is that?
Dick Smith’s very modest Act change would be just a start. Without Government ordering real change GA will continue to die.
Should you have Australia take on the US rules GA will grow jobs and services especially in rural areas.
Inaction is not an option and the dam wall will burst, the justifiable frustration of GA operators is everywhere. I have retired, no axe to grind except see a fair go.
Wishing you well in your new job,
Regards,
Sandy Reith