Originally Posted by
Clare Prop
Did anyone else notice this nice little quip that looks like they're trying to be funny? And on an "official" form that AvMed will use to decide if said student get's his medical!
Originally Posted by CAsA Form 420
often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected.....May not sit still in pre-flight briefings. Hopefully does not get out of seat in flight!
WTF?
My young bloke is on the spectrum, with ADHD thrown in for good measure and does indeed demonstrate many of those behaviors outside the cockpit.
However, he loves his flying and I dunno how he does it, but puts them to one side and can climb at a constant IAS, hold heading and altitude without a problem and could probably fly the lateral portion of an approach within IFR tolerances - and I'd have no trouble believing he could pull of a decent landing if he could reach the rudder pedals or throttle!
He is 8!
I know a train driver who was diagnosed with ASD as an adult and spent 6 months off the road having to redo his medical with the Company CMO (who apart from the bare minimum, has zero psychology training it turns out). Apparently as part of the assessment she asked him to remember 5 words at the start of her assessment and he had to repeat them at the end. When it came time to, he got 1 out of 5, and she was stunned. "
Don't you think that's a serious problem? I told you, you had to remember those 5 words!"
His answer was along the lines of
"Nope, 5 meaningless words in an interview to determine if I can do the job I've been doing for the last 13 years mean nothing to me. But I can tell you down to the milimeter the track gauge in each state of Australia, can tell you how how many volts the main alternator can put out, I can tell you the compressive or tensile force limits of our wagons and can mentally calculate how much force in tonnes I'm putting into the front coupler based on traction horsepower. For anything I need to remember I either write it down, or put it in my phone." From what he told me, she wasn't particularly impressed with his answer, but nonetheless signed him off
Fit for Duty - Unconditional. His psych obviously had no problems with him doing rail safety-critical work!
This is from the
CASA site and I can't say I'm overly thrilled with their expectation that a CFI - who may well be an expert in all-things aviation, but is unlikely to have any
medical training is being expected to provide comment on how ASD/ADHD impacts a student in their normal lives outside of aviation. Using the below, my young bloke would be denied a medical, even though he can fly pretty damn well given his age. My advice to
him when he goes for a medical would be to
say nothing! I think he'd be in company with an awful lot of other (mostly damn good) Australian pilots in that regard, unfortunately. I've highlighted a couple of important bits...
Originally Posted by CAsA
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Aeromedical Implications
Effect of condition on aviation
Premature and ill-considered actions
Restlessness and excess of movement causing distraction
Impaired split attention affecting multi-tasking and situational awareness
Approach to medical certification Based on the condition
In full remission
Based on Treatment
No safety-relevant medication such as stimulants
Demonstrated Stability
Absence of symptoms for a minimum of 6 months after treatment completed. (Reflects DSMIV diagnostic criteria)
Risk assessment protocol - Information required
New cases
Copies of medical records from date of diagnosis to the present
Copies of records from Medicare detailing consultations and prescription of medications
An up to date assessment by the treating paediatrician or psychiatrist if available detailing:
History of condition
Precise confirmation of the diagnosis with reference to DSM-IV criteria
Co-morbidities, including drug and alcohol use
Requirement and response to treatment
Current clinical status with respect to DSM-IV criteria
Current functional status, with reference to collateral information if available from school, family, workplace etc.
Completion by the paediatrician/psychiatrist and the chief flying instructor of the ADHD and autism spectrum disorder instructor’s questionnaire form 420 (PDF 617.14 KB) regarding symptoms in the context of and noting the implications to both the normal day to day life and the conduct of aviation. Attached questionnaire
Copies of academic records and employment history
Copies of traffic infringements and criminal records
Copies of any special investigations performed such as QEEG or neuropsychological testing
Follow-up plan
Previous specialist reports if available
Renewal
May be subject to annual review by an appropriate specialist on a case by case basis.
Indicative outcomes
Favourable
Stable off medication for at least 6 months and satisfactory reports
Instructor questionnaire and annual specialist reports for 5 years following cessation of treatment. After 5 years consideration of removal of surveillance requirement.
Unfavourable
Recurrence of symptoms
Stimulant medication