CASA Medical Officer

[runway16]

I note an advert for CASA seeking a new Principal Medical Officer.
That person to be the Top of The stack in CASA Av Med department.
Was not aware the last one had departed.
No salary figure mentioned but 15% super noted.
Hmm!
Pressure of the job for the last Chief to depart?

[Clinton McKenzie]

Hopefully they’ll find a successor who understands the points made in my supplementary submission to the Senate Committee inquiry into the general aviation industry: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=7fd2a6f0-a5fa-4f5a-a6f4-130d0dcaef33&subId=674447

[Stickshift3000]

It’s the norm rather than the exception for federal gov public servants to receive 15% super.

[Sunfish]

Another Dr. No.

[Capt Fathom]

No salary figure mentioned
$251,720.00 - $310,722.00

Also after Senior Medical Officers! Looks like everyone is leaving!

[Clinton McKenzie]

In my view, the single most beneficial and necessary reform of civil aviation medical certification in Australia would be to outsource it to the private sector, per the current maritime model.

[Seabreeze]

Maritime medicals are far more expensive, I believe.

[Clinton McKenzie]

On the basis of what data do you believe that?

I'm assuming you realise that Avmed requires some applicants for medical certificates to undergo a 'battery' of tests the costs of which have to be borne by the applicant. I hope you're not labouring under the misconception that the only cost is the fee charged by CASA.

[Seabreeze]

[QUOTE=Clinton McKenzie;10992563]On the basis of what data do you believe that?

My son is a master mariner aged 40. His basic medical costs$330 and lasts for 2 years. This covers AMSA fee as well as the MD fee. The MD does weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate, listens to heart, Stand on one foot eye closed for 5 secs, urine, read the smallest line in the chart, and assumes the client can hear if he responds to questions.

There is a form to fill out and the MD asks if the client feels ok. Any other tests are elsewhere and at client cost. Son thinks the medicals are so simple they are useless. Takes about 10 - 15 minutes with MD.

I know about casa medicals. I used to be class 1 but now retired on class 2 as over 70.

[Clinton McKenzie]

Thanks, Seabreeze. I'm sure there are plenty of applicants - including me - for aviation medical certificates who'd be ecstatic to be able to go through the periodic medical certification process at a dollar cost of merely $330.

I'm surprised that you, as an over 70 year old, could get your Class 2 medical certificate at a dollar cost (including the CASA fee) of only $330 or less. Are you able to confirm that you are paying $330 or less to cover the DAME's fee, plus the fee for CASA-required tests and the CASA fee?

[McLimit]

I'm assuming you realise that Avmed requires some applicants for medical certificates to undergo a 'battery' of tests the costs of which have to be borne by the applicant. I hope you're not labouring under the misconception that the only cost is the fee charged by CASA.

I reckon my last one cost 2 grand. Costs my cardiologist said were unnecessary, ridiculous and arbitrary.

My son is a master mariner aged 40. His basic medical costs$330 and lasts for 2 years. This covers AMSA fee as well as the MD fee. The MD does weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate, listens to heart, Stand on one foot eye closed for 5 secs, urine, read the smallest line in the chart, and assumes the client can hear if he responds to questions.

I would quite happily pay $330 and do that medical, naked, in the middle of Bourke Street on a cold winters day than go through the bull**** I have to now.

[Clinton McKenzie]

The almost invariable experience of applicants for aviation medical certificates these days is that professionals, with specialist expertise and responsibility for the applicant's treatment, consider CASA Avmed's requirements to be "unnecessary, ridiculous and arbitrary". If those precise words aren't used, other words of equivalent practical effect are.

[VH-MLE]

The medical before last I was required to undertake a cardiologist review + stress echo cardiogram, despite a supposedly normal ECG.

It turned out CASA Avmed used someone's else's ECG for my assessment, and that person did have an issue. I know that because I was sent that ECG to take to a cardiologist... That person is probably still flying around blissfully unaware that a heart attack (& subsequent crash into a primary school for added effect :)) is just around the corner...

[Clinton McKenzie]

Holy dooley, VH-MLE! I have to say that I would have notified Avmed of its mistake, given that there might be a 'real world' safety issue.

Seabreeze: I'm very keen to know how you get a Class 2 medical certificate, post 70 years of age, for a net cost of $330 or less.

[mustafagander]

Some years back I did a stress test ECG which is not unusual as time marches on.
The funny thing was that the medico who signed it off as normal then received a request to review this ECG from the mental pygmies of CASA medical in his role as a consultant to CASA.
Derrr look who signed off on the ECG. Another day at Fort Fumble.

[uncle8]

'Seabreeze: I'm very keen to know how you get a Class 2 medical certificate, post 70 years of age, for a net cost of $330 or less.'

The basic class 2 medical has cost me a lot less than that, I'm over 70.

[Clinton McKenzie]

Good point, u8: We need to make sure we’re comparing apples with apples.

Seabreeze didn’t use the word ‘basic’. He just said ‘class 2’. It shouldn’t be surprising that a basic class 2 medical certification process costs less in dollar terms than an ‘ordinary’ class 2 medical certification process. That’s precisely one of the reasons for the invention of the ‘basic’ class 2 medical (which concept was - sadly and unnecessarily - still bastardised by CASA).

Seabreeze:Are you talking about an ‘ordinary’ class 2 medical certificate or a ‘basic’ class 2 medical certificate? Either way, I’m still interested in a breakdown of the costs paid to whom.

[VH-MLE]

Clinton - CASA were notified in no uncertain terms...

[McLimit]

filler filler

[VH-MLE]

McLimit, you’re right. My apologies...