[Peetwo]

Latest Su_Spence bollocks on Class 5 medicals etc. - 

From February Fort Fumble briefing:

Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence

We're launching into 2024 with the much-anticipated introduction of the Class 5 medical self-declaration scheme.

It allows many private and recreational pilots to self-assess and self-declare without the need to see a doctor.

It's a significant initiative we've been progressing as part of our General Aviation Workplan aimed at reducing unnecessary cost burdens and simplifying regulatory processes.

While the Class 5 won't meet everyone's needs, it was informed by strong feedback to introduce a scheme that didn't involve a doctor, is based on comprehensive risk analysis and a careful examination of what other safety authorities do overseas.

The fact that Australia is the first jurisdiction where pilots will not have to see a doctor or medical practitioner made it difficult to find comparative data on the likelihood of impairment or a related accident.

That's why we've taken an initially conservative approach and put in place operational limitations on what you can do when flying with a Class 5.

We've noted your feedback on the need to keep looking at the operational limitations and we'll continue to gather safety and risk data to inform future decisions on whether we can remove or relax the restrictions.

We’ll be conducting a post-implementation review in 12 months’ time as well as continuing to work on a Class 4 certificate that will create more operational flexibility with the involvement of a GP.

We also worked diligently with the aviation medicine technical working group to arrive at a proposal that ensures regulation is proportionate to risk and is managed appropriately.

We believe our Class 5 medical scheme sets a new global benchmark in terms of trusting pilots to decide on their own fitness without seeing a doctor.

There has been some suggestion we should have simply adopted the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s approach.

Other schemes we examined in the UK, the US, Canada and New Zealand all required some kind of medical involvement, at least in the initial application or through requirements to have previously held a medical certificate.

The US BasicMed, for example, requires pilots to be examined by a state-licensed doctor every 48 months and to take an online education course every 24 months.

Our self-assessment will require applicants to complete and pass an online test and meet fitness and eligibility requirements before self-declaring. You will only need to see a health practitioner before applying if you are uncertain of your health status.

The new scheme does not cover less common activities such as aerobatics, formation flying and night visual flight rules operations, however these will be considered as part of the post-implementation review.

The limitations include a 2000kg limit on the maximum take-off weight of aircraft that can be flown under the scheme, which covers more than 70% of GA aircraft.

The number of people allowed on board is restricted to 2, drawing on the safety record established through the Recreational Aviation Australia self-declaration with passenger endorsement and the existing CASA RAMP C medical certificate.

More details on how the Class 5 scheme works are available on our website.

The new scheme joins a growing list of GA Workplan initiatives we’ve introduced over the last 2 years.

We’re taking the opportunity to refresh the plan and we’re looking for your input into future areas of focus.

We want to hear about the initiatives you believe should be included in ‘GA Workplan 2.0’ as we continue our push to safely reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and minimise costs where possible.

We’ll also be looking for ideas in the vast amount of information sent to us in the consultations we’ve already conducted, and we’ll be brainstorming within CASA.

We’re particularly interested in initiatives that have wide appeal, will affect a large number of people and may not require regulatory change.

This might involve procedural or administrative changes around how we process an application or provision of additional guidance material to assist operators.

We’re keen to hear your views, so check out our GA Workplan website and send your suggestions through to submit improvement to the rules.

All the best,

Pip

(Plus via LMH: https://www.australianflying.com.au/late...-this-week

A response from Sandy...

Perhaps reading Ms. Spence’s semi apology for the Class 5 with some truly weird discombobulated (?) ramblings will numb your brain and thus provide some comfort. 

Example this ‘world’s first’ no medical exam standard will be limited to two onboard because of the good record of RAAUS (40 yrs has no aviation medical). 

Apparently having more passengers increases the accident rate. It would be interesting to know the RAAUS accident rate compared to the VH private rate. 

MTF...P2