CASA and ICAO restrictions

[kk35467]

Hi, I am currently a 15-year-old boy perusing his dream to become a commercial pilot. Around mid-July, my mother took me in to get my medical done to start my RPL training.

I found out that I had some slight problems with my vision. I apparently had minor problems with my depth perception. The optometrist said it wasn't a big issue but that proved to be wrong. Also, my medical test showed there wasn't enough information with my ECG testing. So I had to wait a month and a half to get tested by a cardiologist which I tested clear.

Not long later I thought casa would just clear my case and give me my medical but I got an email saying my case would be taken up to a panel. There were many obstacles along the way but then the final verdict came. I got an email by casa saying in order to get my medical I need to do some flight testing (Judgement of flare, centerline judgment etc). The test would determine if I am capable enough to get a medical. But also in the letter it said

"Please be advised, dependent on the outcome of the operational check, your medical certificate will be issued with the following special operational restrictions:
 Not valid for mustering or agricultural flying
 Not valid for rotary wing operations
 Holder does not fully meet requirements of ICAO Convention Chapter 6 of Annex"

Initially, I didn't think much of this. I didn't really care about the first two and the last one I had no clue about. Until I called up casa and they told me the last one meant "I cannot fly out of Australian Airspace". This was totally soul drenching as my goal is to be an International Airline Pilot. I haven't contacted casa back yet but I have questions

• Is it possible to get the ICAO restriction removed from my license or is it permanent?
• Is there a method of appeal to get this removed?
• Is it possible to get vision therapy and go for my medical again?
• If I were to apply on a domestic airline will this be shown in my application? Which also leads to will airlines hire me with these conditions?
• Also the worst question of them all. Is this restriction that serious and should I pursue a new career path?

If anyone had been in a similar situation as me please let me know.
Thanks :)

[maggotdriver]

I am not an opth.. anything but have a few questions for you. Firstly, were you tested by an optometrist or ophthalmologist? Secondly, do you have dark brown irises? I know these are strange questions but had a nephew who is now in the RAAF go through something similar to you. The cyclopentolate or other dilating drug can have a longer time requirement to work properly with dark pupils and can consequently give false positives (negatives) so to speak. Second opinion for your career may be worth it...

[kk35467]

Yea my bad I had mine done with a casa certified Ophthalmologist. I just don't really know the difference :) and yea I do have dark brown irises. So yea Thank you so much I will definitely bring that up when approaching casa.

[Left 270]

I won’t comment on your health anymore than to say I hope it works out for the best.

What I will say is Aviation is a very rewarding career but, has its highs and lows, and many hurdles to pass. Don’t for one second think that because international ops MAY be off the table that you can’t have a rewarding career in Aviation also. I understand to a bright young lad/lass like yourself that you may think that international airline pilot is the pinnacle, but there are a wide spectrum of great jobs in Aviation, majority outside of international airline ops. Examples being obviously domestic, regionals, RFDS, you may decide a career in training and checking is for you, the list is nearly endless.

Best of luck!

[XM02A]

Firstly as a disclaimer I'm not a DAO or qualified eyesight specialist of any sort. Just done a bit of casual reading into the issue.

From what it sounds like you are either stereo-blind or functionally monocular. For what it's worth, these are from the DAME handbook (old edition, but lots of information is still the same now... not sure about your issue specifically)

Did you ever have a lazy eye growing up?

https://puu.sh/xZq5p/8f31dc415f.png
https://puu.sh/xZqaF/2a78798f5f.png

It's hard to say without having actual hard data regarding what your individual refraction is in each eye as well as your depth perception levels are.

Really I'd be focusing on that flight-test and hopefully you will pass it without any issues. It always sucks having these issues out of your control as a hurdle preventing you from what you want to do as a career. However, emphasis on them being a hurdle. Sometimes they can be overcome, so keep persisting mate.

[kk35467]

Yea I think you hit the nail right on the head. Those were the test I did when getting examined by the casa ophthalmologist and yes I did have lazy eyes when growing up but did get that corrected by muscle pulling. I have contacted casa about this and it doesn't seem to be the issue. And I think Monocular Vision is what I have so yea Thank you so much for the info now I just need to find a way to see if I can find a way around the monocular restrictions.

[XM02A]

Yeah, the fact that you had a lazy eye doesn't really matter. Your depth perception cues usually develop at a very young age from what I remember reading - so if you had a lazy eye growing up, even though it's 'fixed' now, your brain never developed stereo vision at the critical age due to that issue, hence your lack of depth perception/stereopsis now. But best to listen to what CASA say, don't take my word for any of this!

[kk35467]

I won’t comment on your health anymore than to say I hope it works out for the best.

What I will say is Aviation is a very rewarding career but, has its highs and lows, and many hurdles to pass. Don’t for one second think that because international ops MAY be off the table that you can’t have a rewarding career in Aviation also. I understand to a bright young lad/lass like yourself that you may think that international airline pilot is the pinnacle, but there are a wide spectrum of great jobs in Aviation, majority outside of international airline ops. Examples being obviously domestic, regionals, RFDS, you may decide a career in training and checking is for you, the list is nearly endless.

Best of luck!

Thank you so much. It's really nice to have a different prespective on this. I didnt think of it in that way. But thanks for opening my eye to the oppounties that are still out there for me

[kk35467]

Yeah, the fact that you had a lazy eye doesn't really matter. Your depth perception cues usually develop at a very young age from what I remember reading - so if you had a lazy eye growing up, even though it's 'fixed' now, your brain never developed stereo vision at the critical age due to that issue, hence your lack of depth perception/stereopsis now. But best to listen to what CASA say, don't take my word for any of this!

You sure you're not an Ophthalmologist? you sure sound like one :D But yea ill definitely wait for casa's reply and take it one step at a time :)

[underfire]

Hi, I am currently a 15-year-old boy perusing his dream to become a commercial pilot.

Reading pprune should fix that problem.

[kk35467]

Reading pprune should fix that problem.

It defently helps

[john_tullamarine]

If you wish, we can move this thread to the medical forum which is more appropriate than this. Send me a pm if you so desire.

The moderator there, while not an opthalmologist, is a medical specialist chap. He won't be able to comment on your specific situation but his advice re strategy is, I suggest, the best available via PPRuNe