Yes three cheers for the AFAP..
AFAP letter quote: "...
The AFAP believes it is unreasonable and inappropriate that CASA is asking companies or the affected pilots to make assessments about their ability to hold a medical certificate. CASA issued the medical certificates in question and the affected pilots have been operating under these certificates in good faith.
AOC holders and the pilots themselves are not privy to the "recent medical research" to which CASA refers in its letter nor are they medically qualified to make the assessment requested. If CASA wish to change the regulations regarding colour vision then CASA should follow the correct and established processes. CASA’s letter of 5 June 2014 is in our view an abuse of process.
We request that CASA formally retract the letter of 5 June 2014.
Please also be aware that we will be supporting any of our members who are unfairly discriminated against as a result of CASA’s letter..."
Wonder if they'll be sending further correspondence to the DAS after this letter sent to CVD pilots...
:
Oh well I guess they're at least consistent...
Kharon:
One of the most compelling arguments for doing away with CV restrictions and impositions comes from FM – just about says it all.
Quote:
Military pilots have been navigating safely on night vision goggles for many years now without incidence. Night vision goggles do not display colour.
It is my understanding that NVG helo ops require two pilots, one with the NVGs on (PF) and the other monitoring (i.e. PNF). Much like in a multi-crew (IFR and at night) environment, except you effectively have one CVD pilot who is coupled with a non-CVD pilot.
Hmm...who was instrumental in Oz for getting NVGs approved for civil aviation use...
...oh yes that's right Senator David Fawcett...
Bet you DF has many tomes of factual & statistical information of safe military NVG helo ops that could be quite useful in the upcoming AAT hearing...
...vs the PMO and his former colleague from the CAA NZ, where their main weapon of choice will be Dear Watson's research paper, here is a short appraisal of what that paper discovers:
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 2014, 85 (2): 148-59
Lack of international uniformity in assessing color vision deficiency in professional pilots.
Dougal B Watson
PMID: 24597159
INTRODUCTION: Color is an important characteristic of the aviation environment. Pilots must rapidly and accurately differentiate and identify colors. The medical standards published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) require that pilots have "the ability to perceive readily those colors the perception of which is necessary for the safe performance of duties." The general wording of that color vision (CV) standard, coupled with the associated flexibility provisions, allows for different approaches to the assessment of color vision deficient (CVD) pilots.
METHODS: Data was gathered and analyzed regarding medical assessment practices applied by different countries to CVD pilots.
RESULTS: Data was obtained from 78 countries, representing 78% of the population and 92% of the aviation activity of the world. That data indicates wide variation in the medical assessment of CVD pilots. Countries use different tools and procedures for the testing of pilots, and also apply different result criteria to those tests. At one extreme an applicant making one error upon Ishihara 24-plate pseudoisochromatic plate (PIP) testing is declined a class 1 medical assessment, while at another extreme an applicant failing every color vision test required by the regulatory authority may be issued a medical assessment allowing commercial and airline copilot privileges.
CONCLUSIONS: The medical assessment of CVD applicants is not performed consistently across the world. Factors that favor uniformity have been inadequate to encourage countries toward consistent medical assessment outcomes. This data is not consistent with the highest practicable degree of uniformity in medical assessment outcomes, and encourages aeromedical tourism.
For a summary of what is included in Watto's research paper refer to a recent FSF article
Colour Vision GAP (pg 33
here).
IMO probably the most relevant paragraphs from that article, in regards to this sheer bloody minded attitude from the PMO/Fort Fumble, is this:
Failure and Inconsistency
In five of the 78 states surveyed, applicants who fail all phases of tests offered still are granted medical certification with restrictions, usually in the form of prohibitions on airline flying or night operations, the report said.
“In one state, an applicant who fails all of the testing offered may be issued a Class 1 medical assessment that allows all professional aviation operations except left-seat (captain) airline operations,” the report said. “In this state, a profoundly CVD applicant is able to operate as an airline copilot.”
Among the inconsistencies noted in the report were that some states did not comply with their own published assessment processes, either using a more liberal pass-fail threshold or applying different requirements for new applicants versus experienced pilots.
Some states evaluated color vision only as part of the first application for medical certification, some tested annually, and others conducted the test every few years.
In addition, the report said, “some also accepted the [color vision] assessment of another state in lieu of their own, even when that other state’s CVD assessment protocols and outcomes were different to their own requirements.”
The battle lines are well and truly being drawn up...definitely MTF on this one..