medical restriction and impact on employment
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medical restriction and impact on employment
Hi,
I have a class 1 medical with a restriction due to not fully meeting the ICAO requirements. This is due to poor vision in one eye because of amblyopia. CASA see me as functionally monocular.
I am therefore only looking at pursuing a domestic flying career and ideally would like to get into somewhere like virgin blue or qantaslink.
Does anyone here have any knowledge on how a restriction like mine is going to affect my career domestically?
Andy
I have a class 1 medical with a restriction due to not fully meeting the ICAO requirements. This is due to poor vision in one eye because of amblyopia. CASA see me as functionally monocular.
I am therefore only looking at pursuing a domestic flying career and ideally would like to get into somewhere like virgin blue or qantaslink.
Does anyone here have any knowledge on how a restriction like mine is going to affect my career domestically?
Andy
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No problem, I know of one person with Virgin who has only 10% vision in one eye! And that's the good one!
It shouldn't be a problem.
It shouldn't be a problem.
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Ideally I would like to hear from people in Virgin Blue or Qantaslink or similar domestic carriers who might know that company's policy towards restricted class 1 holders.
Has anyone else had a similar restriction? How did it affect them?
You see I am at a point in my training where I am not sure if I will be able to make much of career out of flying to make it worthwhile to throw the money in. In my "day job" doing IT I am earning $100k+ though I am not flying... but in aviation i will not make even half that much without being in an international carrier.
Has anyone else had a similar restriction? How did it affect them?
You see I am at a point in my training where I am not sure if I will be able to make much of career out of flying to make it worthwhile to throw the money in. In my "day job" doing IT I am earning $100k+ though I am not flying... but in aviation i will not make even half that much without being in an international carrier.
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Ring them directly and ask them, that way you will not be relying on hearsay to make such a possibly costly decision.
Cheers, HH.
Cheers, HH.
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downunderscouser,
Can you put in a good word in for me when you leave your I.T job??
Mate, I have a disability which CASA feels i would be unable to do any mustering or fly choppers - and it's written in my Class2!! I know I can work at getting rid of them for the Class 1, but I still don't stand a chance in hell getting into an Airline. Then I have to go out bush and compete against abled bodied youngsters - I'm still at it though.
If flying is your dream job, and it ain't all about money then keep at it. Even a job with the RFDS you'll be hitting close to the 100k mark!!
Now.. about that I.T job...
Can you put in a good word in for me when you leave your I.T job??
Mate, I have a disability which CASA feels i would be unable to do any mustering or fly choppers - and it's written in my Class2!! I know I can work at getting rid of them for the Class 1, but I still don't stand a chance in hell getting into an Airline. Then I have to go out bush and compete against abled bodied youngsters - I'm still at it though.
If flying is your dream job, and it ain't all about money then keep at it. Even a job with the RFDS you'll be hitting close to the 100k mark!!
Now.. about that I.T job...
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actually that IT job is contracting, and unfortunately only for one more week until i find the next one 
I couldn't find a suitable contact number on the Virgin Blue website, and I emailed Qantaslink from their application page. Hopefully will get some useful feedback.
I couldn't find a suitable contact number on the Virgin Blue website, and I emailed Qantaslink from their application page. Hopefully will get some useful feedback.
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Even a job with the RFDS you'll be hitting close to the 100k mark!!
Not sure that the number is very accurate there - more like $55k I thought, last time I viewed the EBA.
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FTDK: I'd prefer people to only make statements like that if they have actual knowledge of a company's policy. I have known many times I have listened to people without direct knowledge and listened to them only to find out I missed out.
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I'm not the businessman/entrepeneur type. My IT skill set is not really one I could really turn into a business that would require a plane for any purpose. Besides I have ambition to fly something a bit.... bigger....
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FTDK - I suggest you stick to your area of expertise - (airline recruiting perhaps not being one of them). 
Downunderscouser, my previous employer (for whom I also worked in Pilot Recruiting for 7 years) had the policy that provided you could exercise the privileges of your Class 1, you would be considered for the job. I know of at least 2 applicants who had limitations on their medicals due vision problems. They were hired regardless, and went on to be valued employees.
A case of policy matching reality...
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't give up without looking into it thoroughly. If you can, get onto the recruiting departments directly and speak with them before writing yourself off.
Good luck with your efforts
Downunderscouser, my previous employer (for whom I also worked in Pilot Recruiting for 7 years) had the policy that provided you could exercise the privileges of your Class 1, you would be considered for the job. I know of at least 2 applicants who had limitations on their medicals due vision problems. They were hired regardless, and went on to be valued employees.
A case of policy matching reality...
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't give up without looking into it thoroughly. If you can, get onto the recruiting departments directly and speak with them before writing yourself off.
Good luck with your efforts
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Downunder,
In a time where there are lots of jobs going then all you will need is to be able excercise the priviliges of a Class 1 medical, this might be with or without a restriction.
When there aren't many jobs going then employers have the luxury to pick and choose and thus your identical twin in terms of experience/quals and performance is likely to get the job over you if he has a perfect bill of health.
Having said all that i think you should have a real hard think about giving away the career in IT when it can earn you that sort of money. I understand the passion for flying and all that as I've been in your shoes. Aviation is up and down and the cash on offer when compared to what you can earn in my opinion doesn't really justify the investment (financial,time,emotional ect).
In a time where there are lots of jobs going then all you will need is to be able excercise the priviliges of a Class 1 medical, this might be with or without a restriction.
When there aren't many jobs going then employers have the luxury to pick and choose and thus your identical twin in terms of experience/quals and performance is likely to get the job over you if he has a perfect bill of health.
Having said all that i think you should have a real hard think about giving away the career in IT when it can earn you that sort of money. I understand the passion for flying and all that as I've been in your shoes. Aviation is up and down and the cash on offer when compared to what you can earn in my opinion doesn't really justify the investment (financial,time,emotional ect).
FTDK - I suggest you stick to your area of expertise
If I subjected downunderscouser to my particular area of expertise it may well fix his amblyopia!
Dr
And if you fix it for him, Dr K, no doubt he'll be very happy.
And able to express that happiness in ways Myrtle can't.
Amblyopia, on the other hand, is unlikely to affect both your eyes, so provided you have one "good" one, which you can meet 6/6 visual acuity standards in, be it corrected or uncorrected, you should be deemed medically fit to exercise the privileges of your Class 1 medical.
What is the exact wording of the restriction? (PM if you'd prefer).
The information in this post is in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. This PPRuNer does not have the answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor.
And able to express that happiness in ways Myrtle can't.
Amblyopia, on the other hand, is unlikely to affect both your eyes, so provided you have one "good" one, which you can meet 6/6 visual acuity standards in, be it corrected or uncorrected, you should be deemed medically fit to exercise the privileges of your Class 1 medical.
What is the exact wording of the restriction? (PM if you'd prefer).
The information in this post is in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. This PPRuNer does not have the answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor.
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Downunder,
I got that many years ago, and still have same CPL and Class 1. The 'Australia only 'restriction' is actually a concession, which I think even here won't go to ATPL - so charter and instructing is as far as I got - and frankly I am grateful for that. (Elsewhere in the world, I am only allowed a day VFR PPL). However, I would guess there is no reason in theory why you could not be employed as co-pilot on an RPT dash or something. However, a mate of mine who has just been taken on as Dash co-pilot was told to get an ATPL before they would do anything with him.
Unfortunately, and infuritating as he may be sometimes, the Dr might be right again. However, don't give up, build some experience in the lower depths of GA and who knows..... In theory it could happen.
I got that many years ago, and still have same CPL and Class 1. The 'Australia only 'restriction' is actually a concession, which I think even here won't go to ATPL - so charter and instructing is as far as I got - and frankly I am grateful for that. (Elsewhere in the world, I am only allowed a day VFR PPL). However, I would guess there is no reason in theory why you could not be employed as co-pilot on an RPT dash or something. However, a mate of mine who has just been taken on as Dash co-pilot was told to get an ATPL before they would do anything with him.
Unfortunately, and infuritating as he may be sometimes, the Dr might be right again. However, don't give up, build some experience in the lower depths of GA and who knows..... In theory it could happen.
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Unfortunately, and infuritating as he may be sometimes, the Dr might be right again.
Where is FLOPT when you need him......
downunderscouser
Regardless of the postulations of others, take Hugh Jarse advice.
In the area of domestic airline recruitment and training, he definitely has the credentials and runs of the board.
Regardless of the postulations of others, take Hugh Jarse advice.
In the area of domestic airline recruitment and training, he definitely has the credentials and runs of the board.
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I spoke to someone from CASA licensing/medicals earlier on the phone, albeit an office person not a specialist.
They told me that I cannot get an ATPL with this restriction.
I find that totally absurd. In a time when there is a pilot shortage and decent candidates are being refused even though they can do the job safely with a medical issue that does not affect their ability to fly safely.
sure i would have problems if I lost my good eye in flight, but if something happened to injure a pilots eye i don't think that they would be in any state to fly a plane, good remaining eye or otherwise. :P
What has an ATPL got to do with medicals??? it's surely a knowledge and experience level qualification. A person can be ATPL but not fly internationally.
I am starting to consider taking legal action on CASA medicals since I wrote in to them when I first started my training in 2003 and found myself with this limitation "valid for Australian airspace only". I asked what effect this restriction would have on my career and what limitations it would place and was told it would only prevent me flying internationally and that I would need permission from each airspace authority I flew through if I wanted to fly internationally. I explicitly asked if I would be able to fly domestic airlines and they said yes. That was however over the phone.
At no point was I told I could not hold an ATPL. I would never have continued my training. Now I feel all my efforts have been for nothing. As much as I love flying I could not be satisfied doing it for the fun of it... I set out for a career in aviation and it is the one and only goal in life I have ever had. Now the only goal I have is vanishing because of a technicality over my eyesight... which is good enough for me to play soccer, if my eyesight was so bad I would never be able to do that because my brain would not be able to work out how far the ball is from me or what direction/speed it is travelling. But I do have depth perception. I can spot planes further out than some pilots I have flown with who have 20/20 vision both eyes!
ForkedTailDoctorKiller: if you have some suggestion on how I could attempt to correct my eyesight please share.
To answer the earlier question the exact wording of my restriction is:
5. Holder does not fully meet requirements of ICAO Convention chapter 6 annex 1.
They told me that I cannot get an ATPL with this restriction.
I find that totally absurd. In a time when there is a pilot shortage and decent candidates are being refused even though they can do the job safely with a medical issue that does not affect their ability to fly safely.
sure i would have problems if I lost my good eye in flight, but if something happened to injure a pilots eye i don't think that they would be in any state to fly a plane, good remaining eye or otherwise. :P
What has an ATPL got to do with medicals??? it's surely a knowledge and experience level qualification. A person can be ATPL but not fly internationally.
I am starting to consider taking legal action on CASA medicals since I wrote in to them when I first started my training in 2003 and found myself with this limitation "valid for Australian airspace only". I asked what effect this restriction would have on my career and what limitations it would place and was told it would only prevent me flying internationally and that I would need permission from each airspace authority I flew through if I wanted to fly internationally. I explicitly asked if I would be able to fly domestic airlines and they said yes. That was however over the phone.
At no point was I told I could not hold an ATPL. I would never have continued my training. Now I feel all my efforts have been for nothing. As much as I love flying I could not be satisfied doing it for the fun of it... I set out for a career in aviation and it is the one and only goal in life I have ever had. Now the only goal I have is vanishing because of a technicality over my eyesight... which is good enough for me to play soccer, if my eyesight was so bad I would never be able to do that because my brain would not be able to work out how far the ball is from me or what direction/speed it is travelling. But I do have depth perception. I can spot planes further out than some pilots I have flown with who have 20/20 vision both eyes!
ForkedTailDoctorKiller: if you have some suggestion on how I could attempt to correct my eyesight please share.
To answer the earlier question the exact wording of my restriction is:
5. Holder does not fully meet requirements of ICAO Convention chapter 6 annex 1.
Since amblyopiais more commonly know as lazy eye, i highly doubt there would be a problem. but as others have said, just give Virgin, QL, J* or who ever and ask them and post back here, cause i'm intersted to see the outcome too.
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Edit ya post quick..... he has a fat enough head as it is!
Downunder,
Funny old business this lazy eye stuff. Largely it is inherited form ya parents so blame them not CASA. It is sometimes accompanied by colour deficiency, which complicates matters a bit further. I came from a family of 3 kids, two of which got it. As toddlers, we had to crawl around almost blind with stoopid patch things over the good eye to try and make the bad one work. My sister even had an operation at the age of 4 to 'fix' it. None of which worked of course. Strangely enough all of my 3 kids have 20/20 vision and both eyes work perfectly. Pity none of them have the slightest inclination towards aviation. BTW, I guess like you my good eye is 6/6 and the 'bad ' eye has excellent periferal vison. They seem to think we lack depth perception, which is BS of course - but they still say no to ATPL. Don't give up - keep on 'em! There must be a one-eyed ATPL somewhere who you can use to prove the point.