Cap'n, tis a quandry I agree, probably a waste of time; but,submit one must. Complacency being half the reason we are in the pickle we are in. My two Bob's worth, which I will be submitting.
There is little chance of much change in the level of medical scrutiny as its mandated by ICAO; but, it could be streamlined and made a whole lot cheaper if:
Adopt the US system where resources are utilized to train appointed doctors in aeromedical issues, then trusting them to carry out medical assessment, rather than treating them like criminals they haven't caught yet, alluding to their lack of competence and probity thus requiring oversight and completely ignoring the advice of specialists consulted for a particular ailment. As in operational matters CAsA ain't the experts.
Cease and desist allowing CAsA FOI's to use their medical division to sanction pilots who have incurred their wrath.
Allowing the DAME to issue the medical on the spot, as in the USA. That would have the advantage of reducing CAsA's costs by eliminating the plethora of clerks who do the assessment via an arduous tick in the box point system. An error in the application could quickly be cleared up by the DAME, "You've ticked the box saying you continuously pass out , piss off your family members and can't remember the next day you bared your arse at a family wake"....CAsA clerks would immediately brand you as an alcoholic with bi-polar disorder and order you committed. A DAME would more likely ask "are you sure you ticked the right box"?.
Right now there are too many pilots grounded who could be gainfully employed but for 'medical issues', while the grist is ground to the inevitable conclusion, that they were fit to fly. Not only a financial penalty to them, to their employer; and, ultimately the taxpayer who misses out on tax but probably also has to stump up for welfare.
There is little chance of much change in the level of medical scrutiny as its mandated by ICAO; but, it could be streamlined and made a whole lot cheaper if:
Adopt the US system where resources are utilized to train appointed doctors in aeromedical issues, then trusting them to carry out medical assessment, rather than treating them like criminals they haven't caught yet, alluding to their lack of competence and probity thus requiring oversight and completely ignoring the advice of specialists consulted for a particular ailment. As in operational matters CAsA ain't the experts.
Cease and desist allowing CAsA FOI's to use their medical division to sanction pilots who have incurred their wrath.
Allowing the DAME to issue the medical on the spot, as in the USA. That would have the advantage of reducing CAsA's costs by eliminating the plethora of clerks who do the assessment via an arduous tick in the box point system. An error in the application could quickly be cleared up by the DAME, "You've ticked the box saying you continuously pass out , piss off your family members and can't remember the next day you bared your arse at a family wake"....CAsA clerks would immediately brand you as an alcoholic with bi-polar disorder and order you committed. A DAME would more likely ask "are you sure you ticked the right box"?.
Right now there are too many pilots grounded who could be gainfully employed but for 'medical issues', while the grist is ground to the inevitable conclusion, that they were fit to fly. Not only a financial penalty to them, to their employer; and, ultimately the taxpayer who misses out on tax but probably also has to stump up for welfare.