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Q. Why did I have to redo a medical report which my GP could have done, saving the expense and time of traveling to a DAME in a regional centre?

A. CASA cannot comment on individual cases. However, there is a misunderstanding within the industry of the purpose of specialist opinions. Most specialists prescribe a treatment because it improves the patient’s outlook and their reports often reflect this, but CASA requires a risk assessment which involves different questions and investigations. Risk assessment is different to clinical care.
DAME opinions are always valued, but few DAMEs have formal qualifications in aviation medicine. CASA doctors have an advantage in that they have the relevant postgraduate and occupational medicine qualifications, and as the regulator, must make the final decision.
The cost of tests is outside CASA’s control. Applicants frequently supply results of inappropriate tests and you are encouraged to liaise with Avmed beforehand to avoid this problem.
In terms of delays, the median response time is 7–9 days where all the information is complete, but 37 days where it is not. The electronic application process will further reduce delays and ensure complete information is provided before an application can be submitted.
Following recent dialogue with the sport aviation organisations, CASA is actively sourcing material to improve their understanding of medical and regulatory issues.

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24. Dr Navathe’s witness statement concluded in this way:

90. Having reviewed all three specialist reports, I remain convinced that I have made the safest decision in refusing Mr Bolton a Class 1 and 2 medical certificate at this time. I have formed the view that is supported by all three specialists, that Mr Bolton does not have a severe head injury, and ceteris paribus [all other things being equal] will be able to obtain medical certification after a period of 18 – 24 months has elapsed from the time of the injury.

91. I acknowledge that I have an overriding duty to provide impartial assistance to the Tribunal. No matters of significance have been withheld from the Tribunal

Despite the fact that the statement does contain the declaration of duty required by the Guidelines it could not be plainer that Dr Navathe is an advocate for his own decision. I do not propose to have any regard to his opinions. For the future I would trust that CASA’s Legal Branch would exercise independent judgement in deciding what witnesses ought be relied upon and the content of their statements. They ought, obviously enough, be confined to matters that are relevant and witnesses ought be those who can truly provide an independent opinion.

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but few DAMEs have formal qualifications in aviation medicine.

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The Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) Test: An Ishihara by another name?

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for aviation safety, carrying out its responsibility using various methods. These include:

(i) Mandating regular medical tests (minimising risks of, say, cardio-vascular events that could render aircrew incapable of safe piloting); and
(ii) Mandating regular flight-simulator tests (ensuring pilots can cope safely with unexpected events while flying).

CASA also implements the Aviation Colour Perception Standard (ACPS) which since June 2014 has included the CAD Test. In February 2015 the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) granted a colour-vision-defective pilot who had failed the CAD Test all privileges of the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), concluding, in essence, that CAD Test performance was irrelevant in determining whether the pilot could fly aircraft safely.

I elaborate on this AAT decision. I do this by showing a video of the CAD Test in action, and using this to highlight crucial aspects of the Test that provide compelling evidence for the proposition that while the CAD may be an excellent test of defective colour vision, it is not a test of potentially defective and unsafe control of aircraft. That is, the CAD Test is not an operational test, a point acknowledged by Professor J. Barbur, a co-developer of the Test, in his AAT evidence.

I conclude by asking why CASA has not considered using a version of an operational test already in its armoury (see Point (ii) above) in its implementation of the ACPS.

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