Well done VIPA and AIPA
Follow up media from the meeting...
VIPA meets with Acting PM over CVD
The Virgin Independent Pilots Association (VIPA) has raised its ongoing concerns about new regulations for pilots with colour vision deficiency (CVD), in a briefing with the Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss.
Executive Director, Simon O’Hara, said yesterday’s meeting with Mr Truss in Canberra, allowed members of the VIPA Executive to “set the record straight” on changes to CVD testing.
“VIPA thanks the Acting Prime Minister for allowing us the opportunity to outline the long list of issues impacting CVD pilots across Australia, as a result of CASA introducing these unfair policy changes without consulting industry,” Mr O’Hara said today.
“We demonstrated how the colour assessment and diagnostic test (CAD) works and how there is actually no evidence to support CASA’s claims relating to the safety-related implications of the abilities of CVD pilots.
“The fact is, since the early ‘90s, several thousand CVD pilots have reached the highest levels of aviation across Australia with unblemished safety records after CASA previously accepted passes in practical flight and simulator testing.”
The Acting Prime Minister heard first-hand from CVD regional airline pilot, John O’Brien, who lodged an appeal in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), against a refusal by CASA to permit him to become a Captain. The new policy was “discriminating” against CVD pilots like Mr O’Brien.
Dr Arthur Pape, an authority in CVD, the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) President Nathan Safe and Senator David Fawcett, also attended the briefing with the Acting Prime Minister.
“Unless the Government intervenes, we are extremely concerned these new policy changes will see an increasing number of CVD pilots abandoning the industry altogether,” Mr O’Hara explained.
“VIPA and other industry stakeholders will continue to work together with Mr Truss to address the issues contained in our Submission and we were further encouraged by his agreement that CASA won’t make any further changes to CVD regulations without consulting industry.”