New and “improved”

In my travels around this great country of ours it distresses me no end to see the lack of general aviation activity. Gone are the days when every second airport had a thriving aero club and charter operator. Now one is greeted with a deserted tarmac and a locked hangar.

The short cause summary is massive escalation of costs and over regulation. On one hand our political parties talk of their concern about shrinking population in country towns but do little to arrest that moment. For people to want to live away from the big smoke they need good communication and services, not just e-communication but the movement of people and goods at the same level as that enjoyed by city dwellers. General aviation is one way to help achieve that. But does GA get the recognition that it needs and deserves? No. Only lip service.

Speaking of over regulation, when the introduction of Part 61 was mooted we were told that it was going to be a sensible compilation of various aviation regulations into one stand-alone document to make it user friendly. We were also told that this new document would eliminate the need for CASA to grant exemptions. That was wrong.

Part 61 came into being a year late and CASA is still getting regular queries to those so-called new clear-cut regulations. Exemptions. What a subject. At last count almost 100 had been issued and all because Part 61 was not clear in its make up. All of this has had a devastating effect on aviation and a massive cost impost. Will it cease? How long is a length of string? Perhaps we need a CASA with part of its charter being to foster aviation and not just over regulate it.

Aviation medicals have changed, again In the past a pilot just booked in with a DAME and went in to have a medical examination renewal. The doctor and nurse filled out all the boxes and submitted the findings to CASA. Now avmed has changed the game.

As from March 21 the new system, titled Medical Records System (MRS) requires that a renewal form be filled out, via the pilot’s email address, and for class 1 and 3 applicants to pre-pay CASA the required fee, $75. It is important to understand that all the boxes must be filled out – with yes, no or unsure as an answer. Some of the questions asked will hark back to years before the applicant will have any record for an answer. The doctor at the renewal examination will then bring up the form and add the examination results to it. It is vital to understand that unless the applicant fills out all the answers the doctor will not be able to access the form in his surgery. Do take your glasses and the spare pair, if you need vision correction.

This new system means several things. The applicant for the renewal must have an email address that is on record with CASA’s avmed section. Better to have a private email address rather than use a company address. Update if need be.

The online form needs to be filled out in its entirety and for class 1 & 3 applicants the CASA fee paid before the examination with the DAME.

For some pilots there will be additional examinations, for example, eyes, blood tests, hearing, cardio, stress tests etc. For these the applicant will need a referral and that will require an earlier visit to the doctor to get that referral and have the additional tests carried out before the avmed examination with the DAME.

The additional tests can be carried out after the actual avmed test but that then holds up the processing of the renewal. To get to the online form go to CASA website>Avmed>Information for Pilots.

The new system has not been without issue. It has been reported to this writer that three Melbourne eastern suburbs DAMEs have elected not to continue conducting avmed examinations as the whole procedure is too complicated and time-absorbing. As a result another DAME had a request to carry out no fewer than 21 examinations in one day! No doubt as a result of the dropout of the other DAMEs. The Australian newspaper of July 8 also reported the same type of issues.

We live in ever changing and challenging times.

Contact Dave by email: [email protected]

But does GA get the recognition that it needs and deserves? No. Only lip service.