CASA had it right in the drivers licence medical, DLMA, so with one little paragraph in the new RAMPC, in spite of their protestations that nothing has changed, they have removed from the skies forever, with one stroke of the regulatory pen, probably over half of the current DLMA holders. And to the aging class 2 medical holders out there, they have removed any chance of you flying on after CASA has you in their sights.
CASA Medical Audit conditionsWhere an applicant is currently subject to a CASA medical audit they will be unable to hold a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificate.
Under a Class 2 Medical Certificate which is endorsed with "CASA audit required" applicants have the ability to hold a certificate which can then be revalidated by a DAME but CASA will audit the certificate before it is issued. The nature of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificatedoes not allow an applicant who is subject to CASA medical audit conditions to hold a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificatedue to the requirement the certificate be unconditional.
This makes the RAMPC exactly the same as the class 2 medical. The lower standards of the DLMA was risk mitigated by limitations imposed on the user such as only aircraft less than 1500kg all up weight, ie a light two to four seat Cessna type that everyone was familiar with, day time flight only, visual conditions, singe engine, no turbines or jets, one passenger only who must be informed of the pilots lower standard of medical. This was a great step forward as it enabled older, experienced pilots to continue flying a familiar type aircraft in undemanding conditions.
Even stranger, in the CASA RAMPC FAQs, they state:
Q. I failed my Class 2 medical. Can I still apply for a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificate ? A. Yes, you are still eligible to fly under a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificate as long as you meet that medical standard and you follow the instructions on the CASA website.
So if you don't meet the class 2 standards, you can get a RAMPC, but if you do conditionally meet the class 2 standards, you can't get a RAMPC. That makes no sense.
The "CASA audit required" statement has made the whole RAMPC exercise completely useless and will only make many older, experienced pilots with a manageable and risk mitigated ailment unable to ever fly again. Every pilot in the world medically self certifys before flying every day of the year except the day they do their medical when they are certified by their medical practitioner.
Surely CASA trusts their own DAMEs, designated aviation medical examiners to confirm whether applicants are fit to fly, the "CASA audit required" statement needs to be removed completely and this responsibility passed to the examining doctor, if he is not happy with the applicant he certainly would not certify him.