Touch-And-Go, as mentioned in previous posts, I have conducted the tower signal gun test and scored 7/8 lights correct. I got the very last light wrong and so the test was a fail.
This one mistake has now had my career on hold for the past seven years since I achieved my full ATPL. It's a crazy situation where I hold the actual licence required to obtain a multi-crew command and fly that aircraft everyday without issue, but my medical only allows me to operate up to CPL level.
I still maintain that the signal gun test does not simulate an "operational situation" as required by the regulations, just like the practical lantern test in Melbourne doesn't either. I wonder how many people out there have seen a tower signal gun used in real life? Especially in an ATPL environment which is where the issue is at the moment.
Could you imagine you're on finals into a busy international airport flying an approach to the mimima and have suffered a radio failure - the possibility of seeing anything other than a green light is almost zero. Tower are hardly going to give you a red light indicating to go-around! Just like if you suffer a radio failure approaching a holding point, they're not going to give you a green light issuing a take-off clearance either. The signal gun is simply old outdated technology and does not at all reflect today's modern aviation envionment. In the type of aircraft requiring an ATPL, we are equipped with not only dual VHF radios, but also HF and sat phones in addition to carrying mobiles. Even many approach plates these days list phone numbers for ATC as part of their loss of comm procedures - they don't make mention of looking for the tower signal gun...
Having said all that, for all those that have had their medical restrictions waived by virtue of passing the signal gun test then count yourself very lucky indeed! Prior to Arthur Pape's AAT cases you were never even able to do that test and were restricted from flying at night (as is still the case in a lot of countries around the world). This is why he still needs the support of not only the pilots still battling the discrimination, but also guys like Touch-And-Go who have benefited from the previous AAT decision.
Touch-And-Go, If you haven't already looked at it, I highly encourage you to check out the CVDPA website for a full run down on the history. Join up as a CVDPA member so that we can start working to bring change to others who are desprately fighting around the world to have the same opportunites as us in Australia.
P.s This doesn't come at a cheap price
If you reckon the signal gun test was expensive, you should see the expected legal fees we're facing! You've only got to look at some of the other threads going on PPruNe to see that there is much unhappiness about the avmed section at CASA. Here's one opportunity we've all got to start to bring them to account and to test their unfounded and irrational bureauocratic processes. We need your support through CVDPA to make this happen though.