CASA medical delay
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Had to get the DAME to submit details for my recent Class One twice.
Spent 1/2 an hour on the phone on one ocassion listening to a recorded message thing when trying to check on progess through the system after a months delay - so am not particularly impressed.. Got the phone bill today....
Never ever got a reply to the e-mail.
But Hey.. - am on the Aged Pension now, so have all the Time In The World.. (am glad it's only for fun now)
Read it and weep youngsters.. If you aren't prepared to stand up and be counted for a fair go, then you deserve what you will get in the future..
Spent 1/2 an hour on the phone on one ocassion listening to a recorded message thing when trying to check on progess through the system after a months delay - so am not particularly impressed.. Got the phone bill today....
Never ever got a reply to the e-mail.
But Hey.. - am on the Aged Pension now, so have all the Time In The World.. (am glad it's only for fun now)
Read it and weep youngsters.. If you aren't prepared to stand up and be counted for a fair go, then you deserve what you will get in the future..
Last edited by frigatebird; 16th May 2012 at 09:56.
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I can't believe that after being so backwards about payment, ie FAX, post or Phone payment, they have cancelled the phone payment option now.
You can only pay for your medical if you post or fax it in.
No online payment
You can only pay for your medical if you post or fax it in.
No online payment
Tonight I am angry. Six months ago I jumped through all the hoops that old guys must jump through. Prodding, poking, bleeding, running on a treadmill etc. Aced it. Paid my 75 bucks to CASA. Never saw a new medical certificate. Never received any notification that it had been denied. So...I have been and will continue flying without it, and eagerly await some pr!ck from the Government to ping me so I can challenge them. Assholes, incompetent assholes.
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Took a couple of weeks for CASA to update my medical details for the latest renewal.
When I phoned someone at CASA told me they are short staffed and there is a delay in data input and processing.
A polite phone call got things updated quickly.
When I phoned someone at CASA told me they are short staffed and there is a delay in data input and processing.
A polite phone call got things updated quickly.
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I love threads like this, yes CASA are completely and utterly useless, not only when it comes to medicals, but with everything they touch, the Errol Flynn's of Government.
Sadly, as long as the joint is a Government department, things will only get worse, so enjoy the level of service you get from there now, soon things will get much worse and you might as well get the Doctor to do your next renewal 12 months early cause thats about how long it will take to process.
Sadly, as long as the joint is a Government department, things will only get worse, so enjoy the level of service you get from there now, soon things will get much worse and you might as well get the Doctor to do your next renewal 12 months early cause thats about how long it will take to process.
Last edited by PittsS2A; 8th Jul 2012 at 10:55.
CASA Avmed IT system strikes again. They lost mine as well, DAME subitted ok, but CASA cant find it.
Cant do another medical, CASA wont process anything so Im stuck.
Can we take it to the AAT?
Cant do another medical, CASA wont process anything so Im stuck.
Can we take it to the AAT?
Reckon the go is to do the medical and retain a copy of the Doctor's report. I think that is your right. If CASA are going to deny reissue I think that are required under the Act (or somewhere) to advise you in writing of why they have done so. Anyway that's my argument while I continue to fly without a certificate that I paid for....
It will get interesting when I front the Doctor with no current medical to get the 60 day extension, but whose fault is that? It merely highlights a deficiency in the system.
It will get interesting when I front the Doctor with no current medical to get the 60 day extension, but whose fault is that? It merely highlights a deficiency in the system.
My issue is temporarily resolved, but was cause partly by CASA's inability to provide a stable IT system so that the DAME's can actually submit a medical report.
Now for the real scoop. Word is that in the medical community. Most of the GP's who hold DAME approvals are fed up with dealing with CASA. Apparently a huge proportion of medical reprts go missing, reject or what ever because of the unreliable CASA IT system, a huge proportion of DAME's around Australia intend not to renew their delegation. It costs them way too much time and lost buisiness dealing with CASA.
Now for the real scoop. Word is that in the medical community. Most of the GP's who hold DAME approvals are fed up with dealing with CASA. Apparently a huge proportion of medical reprts go missing, reject or what ever because of the unreliable CASA IT system, a huge proportion of DAME's around Australia intend not to renew their delegation. It costs them way too much time and lost buisiness dealing with CASA.
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Actually, many of the GPs in the DAME community are going to have their delegations withdrawn as they have consistently failed to meet the currency requirements to be a DAME. Many of these are the same ones who do only a few medicals a year, make the most errors requiring the medical to be returned to them for correction, and don't use the electronic submission system.
There are certainly issues in the IT system, but these predominantly relate to paper mailed to CASA which has to be then scanned into the system. This happens outside of AVMED.
There are certainly issues in the IT system, but these predominantly relate to paper mailed to CASA which has to be then scanned into the system. This happens outside of AVMED.
To what extent does ICAO require the regulator to get so directly involved in routine medical renewals?
I have no trouble getting a certificate issued on another ICAO license that I hold and this is done directly by the medical examiner, valid for six months. The regulator still gets a copy of the report, but to my knowledge does not actively assess each and every renewal. Maybe they do random checks to keep the examiners honest, but whatever, it is much less hassle. Amazingly, they don't have pilots croaking at the controls there any more than anywhere else in the world.
I have no trouble getting a certificate issued on another ICAO license that I hold and this is done directly by the medical examiner, valid for six months. The regulator still gets a copy of the report, but to my knowledge does not actively assess each and every renewal. Maybe they do random checks to keep the examiners honest, but whatever, it is much less hassle. Amazingly, they don't have pilots croaking at the controls there any more than anywhere else in the world.
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 9th Jul 2012 at 21:56.
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Fact is they routinely lose Doctors reports, I had a heart issue some years ago, all reported to them, no requirements came forward, stopped flying for the required 6 months and then got a Cardiologist clearance.
Resumed flying, subsequently some 2years later in a non related medical report the issue of the Heart came up.
CASA through Dr Fitzgerald threatened me with prosecution for non reporting of the original heart issue, it went as far as CASA legal.
They backed off smartly when the original letter from my DAME informing them of the treatment was produced and made them look like prats. They lost the original letter !!!!!!
My advice keep copies of everythig when it has any interface with CLARC they are just the most innefective group in the FederalPublic Service.
Be ready to instruct counsel !!!!!
Resumed flying, subsequently some 2years later in a non related medical report the issue of the Heart came up.
CASA through Dr Fitzgerald threatened me with prosecution for non reporting of the original heart issue, it went as far as CASA legal.
They backed off smartly when the original letter from my DAME informing them of the treatment was produced and made them look like prats. They lost the original letter !!!!!!
My advice keep copies of everythig when it has any interface with CLARC they are just the most innefective group in the FederalPublic Service.
Be ready to instruct counsel !!!!!
CASA and the aviation medical
Having been through the medical mill myself, and having a PPL friend being hounded and thoroughly worked over by AVMED, none of your stories are surprising. But what can be said (I've been doing these medicals since 1965) is that AVMED, along with CASA in general, is more dysfunctional than ever.
The irony of it all is that there are no studies that give any credence to the notion that aviation medicals improve the safety of flight. As in my case the system might be helpful to the health of an individual, but not to safety.
Some proof of this is that we now have many years experience with RAAus where the level of medical has been that of a person able to drive a car. These pilots have not been falling out of the sky any more than your normal car or truck driver is suffering debilitating seizures and creating havoc on the roads.
I see one of the problems is that of pilot ego, we are so special that of course we have to prove ourselves as the super humans that we must be as we perform our aerial magic. Thus no question has really arisen as to the efficacy of the system in principle.
Until industry personnel engage their Federal MPs and demand that CASA be brought to book and that reforms be instigated, things will get worse.
The irony of it all is that there are no studies that give any credence to the notion that aviation medicals improve the safety of flight. As in my case the system might be helpful to the health of an individual, but not to safety.
Some proof of this is that we now have many years experience with RAAus where the level of medical has been that of a person able to drive a car. These pilots have not been falling out of the sky any more than your normal car or truck driver is suffering debilitating seizures and creating havoc on the roads.
I see one of the problems is that of pilot ego, we are so special that of course we have to prove ourselves as the super humans that we must be as we perform our aerial magic. Thus no question has really arisen as to the efficacy of the system in principle.
Until industry personnel engage their Federal MPs and demand that CASA be brought to book and that reforms be instigated, things will get worse.
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Still playing the waiting game for Class 1 renewal... What annoys me is we pay so much tax as it is, then we have to pay a government department to do its job which should take five minutes and they can't even get it right! They forget some of us have an invested interest in that bit of paper, IE putting food on the table...
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The DAME's receptionist will usually give you a stamp or piece of paper for a temporary two month medical certificate until the proper one arrives.
I think the CASA clerical staff are over worked and all data processing has a back log, which is also leading to over work and mistakes.
The woman at Avmed CASA was lovely and very helpful, but the suggestion of a Business Processing overhaul above has merit.
They should give DAMEs access to the Avmed system over the internet so they can update the details on the spot for an instant medical, then automatically mail the certificate.
I think the CASA clerical staff are over worked and all data processing has a back log, which is also leading to over work and mistakes.
The woman at Avmed CASA was lovely and very helpful, but the suggestion of a Business Processing overhaul above has merit.
They should give DAMEs access to the Avmed system over the internet so they can update the details on the spot for an instant medical, then automatically mail the certificate.
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I think the CASA clerical staff are over worked and all data processing has a back log, which is also leading to over work and mistakes.
Perhaps we should give them some more taxpayer money pete?
Thread Starter
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The woman at Avmed CASA was lovely and very helpful
And sure, you'll occasionally strike an "Expert in the Application of Corporal Punishment to (Smaller) Primates", but by and large the guys and gals on the magic tellingbone seem to be doing their best. The problem lays, methinks, somewhere higher up the chain. The rejigs suggested all have merit.
Thankfully, my medical (finally) turned up - but I'm still worried about what'll happen the next time, because it was clearly not an isolated incident.
The point is to remember: You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Of course that's wrong too, because as we all know you'll catch more flies with
.Perhaps AOPA could take up the cause?
Going back to Ausdoc's oost:
Really??? These GP's are the same guys who do medicals for driving licences, insurance medicals, scuba medicals, fire service medicals, CAMS (car racing) licences and I'm sure many others. Exactly how different is an Aviation Class 2 medical from any of these (and why do they need to be at all different)? Under the current regime of General Practice certification, do you really think CASA has anything to offer in terms of quality assurance or certification? The CASA requirements are lightweight by comparison. If there are endemic mistakes filling out the bureaucratic forms, then maybe its the bureaucracy that requires the review more than the doctors. I'm not a doctor, but I'd make a large bet that the average IQ of a GP is well above the average IQ of the CASA CLARC department. And CASA wants to beat them up because they can't fill out a form properly that CASA designed?
Frankly, the new relaxation of the medical requirements shows that a) its not really that important and pilots aren't really that different from other mortals and b) CASA don't actually understand the critical importance of medicals. If CASA understood this they would have incorporated an altitude differential (eg valid below 8,000ft - note 8,000 not the artificial bureaucratic 5,000ft or 10,000ft thresholds) because low oxygen partial pressure makes many other physiological issues more critical. They might also understand that its energy that causes impact damage, not mass (ie MTOW). Energy has a squared relationship with velocity and a linear relationship with speed (1/2 mv2). So, restricting the speed of aircraft for the new medicals makes more sense than restricting mass. At cruise speed, 2 seat Lancair will make a bigger hole in the suburbs than a 4 seat Auster.
Actually, many of the GPs in the DAME community are going to have their delegations withdrawn as they have consistently failed to meet the currency requirements to be a DAME. Many of these are the same ones who do only a few medicals a year, make the most errors requiring the medical to be returned to them for correction, and don't use the electronic submission system.
Frankly, the new relaxation of the medical requirements shows that a) its not really that important and pilots aren't really that different from other mortals and b) CASA don't actually understand the critical importance of medicals. If CASA understood this they would have incorporated an altitude differential (eg valid below 8,000ft - note 8,000 not the artificial bureaucratic 5,000ft or 10,000ft thresholds) because low oxygen partial pressure makes many other physiological issues more critical. They might also understand that its energy that causes impact damage, not mass (ie MTOW). Energy has a squared relationship with velocity and a linear relationship with speed (1/2 mv2). So, restricting the speed of aircraft for the new medicals makes more sense than restricting mass. At cruise speed, 2 seat Lancair will make a bigger hole in the suburbs than a 4 seat Auster.