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VIPA labels new colour vision deficiency regs “discriminatory”

written by australianaviation.com.au | June 19, 2014
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Are new rules relating to colour vision deficiency (CVD) discriminatory?

The Virgin Independent Pilots Association (VIPA) says new rules relating to colour vision deficiency (CVD) discriminates against pilots already working in Australia’s major airlines, but will fail to deliver any better safety outcomes.

VIPA says a review of the Civil Authority Safety Regulation Part 67 by the CASA states that Class 1 pilots with CVD will have to inform their employers about their CVD, and that pilots may be forced to undergo a colour assessment and diagnostic test (CAD) in the future.

“Whilst VIPA always recognises that aviation safety remains paramount, we condemn CASA’s new procedures relating to CVD pilots,” VIPA executive director, Simon O’Hara said. “The fact is, there are hundreds of commercial pilots with CVD who have passed check and line training requirements and subsequently have thousands of hours flying without incident, who will be impacted by these restrictive practices.”

VIPA says it supports an appeal lodged in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by a CVD pilot against a refusal by CASA to permit him to become a captain.

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Comments (2)

  • CVDPA

    says:

    Well done VIPA for supporting CVD pilots! CASA’s arguments are based on prejudice, not on science. Their new rules disregard 25 years of safe flying by CVD pilots at all levels of the aviation industry. They ignore the findings of two previous independent tribunals which found overwhelmingly that there was no safety risk. The later of these cases was a publicly funded test case with hearings that lasted for almost 30 days. They pre-empt the outcome of a third AAT appeal which has still yet to be heard. They ignore the recommendations of the industry itself and those who fly with CVD pilots on a regular basis.
    http://cvdpa.com/highlights/the-empire-strikes-back

  • [Anonymous Please]

    says:

    The CVD issue is a travesty and a complete “misuse of power” by the regulator [CASA] and should be condemned by all in the aviation industry.

    Remember, you could be next.

    The problem, as exposed by the Forsyth ASRR [Aviation Safety Regulatory Review] is that industry does not trust CASA and is calling for a root and branch reform. Submission [http://vocasupport.com/asrr-submissions-released-by-forsyth-review/] after submission calls for serious changes.

    The Minister has been put on notice, yet CASA in complete disregard of the Senate, ASRR and the Minister continues to allow CASA to misuse it’s power to prosecute, discriminate and harass aviation industry participants.

    Many people have been directly threatened by CASA, but were still moved to talk to the senate [Senators Fawcett and Xenophon] and the Forsyth review.

    The threats continue to many in the industry.

    I believe the 30% of submissions which were made as confidential, contain serious issues for the Minister to immediately tackle and thus regain industry confidence.

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