Originally Posted by
43Inches
Problem that AvMed has now is the more they ask questions of the mental state of the general pilot body the more they will find the truth that over half pilots flying will be diagnosed with what in todays terms would require them specialist attention. How many pilots post Covid can say that they havn't had anxieties or possible depression during the lockdowns. That then requires AvMed to request specialist assurances from all affected pilots as well as vetting those responses for further issues. At what point do they just adjust the regulations and allow a GP or DAME to just assess your fitness on presentation.
As opposed to what was suggested to tell AvMed nothing, the opposite would be the end of AvMed, if every pilot flying told the complete truth about their thoughts and mental state. Throw in every chest pain and head ache you've had in the last 20 years, lost moments during a few drinks in 1982, grandfather was a serial killer with severe cardiovascular disease and suicidal tendencies.. etc. They would have to ground about 2/3rd of all flying pilots. Instead of playing the question game and answering what you think is right.
Assuming ADHD and its like has been around for a while now, there has to be many pilots flying with the condition, possibly undiagnosed and untreated. I mean I've seen Chief pilots asking where they left an Aircraft, is that like losing ones toys?
I think the truth of the matter is that the current delays in processing may just be that pilots are being more honest than ever about health issues and AvMed is having a minor cardiac event trying to deal with it.
My observation is that an ever-increasing number of people legitimately fear an overreaction by Avmed to the ever-increasing number of conditions that Avmed considers to be aero-medically relevant, and are telling DAMEs as little as possible, if anything, about something that could be seized upon by Avmed.
The most recent demonstration of the CASA executive’s disconnection from or denial of reality on matters Avmed occurred just last Friday. During a Senate Estimates hearing, this exchange occurred:
Senator: Do you believe that there may be a perverse incentive for a pilot not to report that they have suffered an adverse event if they report an event they are putting their financial livelihood at risk?
Ms Spence: No Senator.
Senator: You don’t?
Ms Spence: No Senator.
Let’s pause there, and think about that answer to that question.
I’ve met a few public officials who are lazy. I’ve met a few public officials who lack common sense because they’ve had little experience in the real world. But I’ve never met a public official who is downright stupid, especially at the levels reached by Ms Spence.
Someone who will put their financial livelihood at risk if they report something has no incentive not to report? Pull the other one, it plays Jingle Bells. Let’s not forget that Avmed’s intervention often involves the imposition of expensive (and dangerous) tests which qualified professionals consider to be unnecessary or unjustified.
The Alice In Wonderland journey continued:
Senator: How does CASA detect pilots who may have a medical problem if they have not self reported to CASA?
Ms Spence: Can you repeat the question, sorry Senator?
[Senator repeats the question. Ms Spence appeared to me to be nonplussed.]
Mr Marcello[sp?] intervenes: So as I said before, Senator, medical certificate holders are required to see an examiner on a regular basis….
Oh dear.
I don’t know which would worry me more: That they actually believe that seeing a DAME on a regular basis results in the detection of all “medical problems” that a pilot has not self reported; or that they know it doesn’t but would prefer not to be honest about it.
It’s lucky that many pilots are able to, and do, maintain their fitness while evading Avmed’s damaging overreactions to the objective risks of “medical problems” that are not reported to DAMEs or CASA. The real safety problem arises when a person does not seek expert advice ‘when in doubt’ about something, for fear that it will get back to Avmed somehow. I have had numerous conversations with individuals in those circumstances, all of whom hold medical certificates. But CASA evidently believes or would prefer to pretend they don’t exist.
(The above quotes are my transcript of the video of the 25 Nov 22 RRAT Estimates hearing, from about the 12:14 mark in the video. The video is here:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen The Hansard has yet to be published. I will correct the above if there are errors in my transcript.)