RA AUS Class 2 Medical Help!

[Guest jonnywallace]

Hi there,

 

I'm hoping to get some advice from anyone who may have gone through something similar to my situation. I'm 30 years old and fit, 17 hours into my training, just about ready to go solo and loving it- but waiting on my class 2 medical to do so.

 

But, CASA came back to me requesting more information for head injury I sustained 3 years ago skiing, requiring me to see a Neurologist, and obtain and MRI and EEG scans of my head, (understandable). I have suffered absolutely no side affects after this incident.

 

Pretty much, everything in relationship to the head injury came back OK. BUT, the scan brought up a small benign lesion on my brain, (which has probably been there all my life) which has a 1-3% chance of causing me epilepsy/a seizure.

 

My question is: are my aspirations of becoming a recreational/PPL pilot over? Looking at the CASA Recreational Pilot Medicinal Disqualifying Conditions, (link below) its states that the pilot is not fit to hold an unconditional license if "the patient has ever experinced a seizure" - I have never actually had a seizure, so I am hoping that this makes me exempt, even though I am at a very low risk of being exposed to one?

 

http://services.casa.gov.au/avmed/pilots/info/rampc/rampc_disqualify.asphttp://services.casa.gov.au/avmed/pilots/info/rampc/rampc_disqualify.asp

 

For anyone taking the time to read this and share any advice/experience, I am much appreciative.

 

Thanks,

 

 

[mike_perth]

Hi

 

I can say I've not experienced a head injury but I have experienced a "please provide more tests" letter from CASA, my experience was kind of simple...speak to CASA and or your Dame and be honest...CASA helped me every step of the way, sure they were slow to respond and my tests were black and white so to speak (increased BMI and high blood pressure) but gave them a few phone calls and got good information and assistance.

 

Make sure your comfortable with your DAME and make sure they understand your situation

 

 

[mike_perth]

I will also add...your aspirations to hold an RAA Recreational Certificate are certainly not over, you don't need to hold class 2/any medical (my understanding) only PPL and beyond so to speak needs class 2/1

 

 

[Litespeed]

My understanding is that as long as you are medically fit to hold a drivers license then you self certify and are good to go for a Rec pilots cert.

 

Adverse medical events that are in the past and have a very low impact on the future have caused all sorts of grief for many a GA pilot. If you are in much doubt just go RAA.

 

 

[David Isaac]

Your best approach is to talk to CASA Avmed about it. I would have thought that 1-3% is a very low risk. I would have also thought the percentage risks for any undiagnosed issue or even general medical risks of a medical incident would be in that order anyway. There is no such thing as risk free. It may well be acceptable to CASA after some discussion.

 

Talk to them and ask them if that risk is acceptable. Go to a neurological professor and get a second and third opinion and submit that with your discussions. Be prepared to spend some money though.

 

My neurologist told me that MRIs show all sorts of things that are ultimately benign and some things not so benign. Better to know than not. He said they are still learning today from what MRIs turn up.

 

I also had to have a couple of MRIs at CASAs request. It showed markers which in the end were considered normal.

 

 

[Geoff_H]

I have just had the same stupidity. An ultrasound showed a benign cyst on my kidney. Most people my age have them, been flying over 40 years. I had to go to a urologist and spend $200 to get a letter that said they did not affect me or my flying. The urologist found it difficult to understand that CASA did not understand that they are common and pose no problem, I had to tell him it was just CASA! With trivia like this no wonder they take ages to assess medicals. Talk about take no responsibility for their job, just charge a fortune for little responsibility.

 

 

[Geoff_H]

I once was contracted to a large engineering consultancy. They are stock market listed and make very large profits. 'CASA charge more per hour than they do, is 'CASA very inefficient or are they returning high profits to the government coffers?

 

 

[old man emu]

Yesterday I passed my annual Heavy Vehicle Driver's medical. Now I am considered physically and mentally fit to drive an 80-seater bendy bus fully loaded with school children at 100 kph on a freeway in peak hour traffic. However, according the CASA, I am not physically fit enough to fly solo circuits in a VH-registered Jabiru at my local airport (Camden).

 

Why? Because a stress echocardiograph conducted by a cardiac specialist revealed "T-wave inversion in lead III." Conclusion - Normal stress echo with no evidence of myocardial ischaemia.

 

This T-wave inversion, without associated breathlessness, occurs in about 5% of the population. It is a normal genetic variation. However AVMED would knock back my Class 2 medical on the basis that my cardiac function was not "normal"

 

If AVMED will not accept normal genetic variation in cardiac function, then how long before they start knocking back applicants who are blue eyed and auburn haired? This combination is surely a minority amongst the whole human population.

 

It is time that the faceless arbiters of AVMED emerged into the real world.

 

OME

 

 

[turboplanner]

I'm 30 years old and fit, 17 hours into my training, just about ready to go solo and loving it- but waiting on my class 2 medical to do so.

Johnny, are you in training for a PPL, or an RA Certificate?

 

 

[Guest jonnywallace]

Johnny, are you in training for a PPL, or an RA Certificate?

Hey mate, I am trading RPL at Bankstown, but I assume I need the class 2 as it is Delta airspace

 

 

[Guest jonnywallace]

I will also add...your aspirations to hold an RAA Recreational Certificate are certainly not over, you don't need to hold class 2/any medical (my understanding) only PPL and beyond so to speak needs class 2/1

Cheers Mike, great advice. Gave them a call today - was told that it's at the medical examiner's discretion, so let's hope the report seems OK.

 

 

[Guest jonnywallace]

Yesterday I passed my annual Heavy Vehicle Driver's medical. Now I am considered physically and mentally fit to drive an 80-seater bendy bus fully loaded with school children at 100 kph on a freeway in peak hour traffic. However, according the CASA, I am not physically fit enough to fly solo circuits in a VH-registered Jabiru at my local airport (Camden).Why? Because a stress echocardiograph conducted by a cardiac specialist revealed "T-wave inversion in lead III." Conclusion - Normal stress echo with no evidence of myocardial ischaemia.

 

This T-wave inversion, without associated breathlessness, occurs in about 5% of the population. It is a normal genetic variation. However AVMED would knock back my Class 2 medical on the basis that my cardiac function was not "normal"

 

If AVMED will not accept normal genetic variation in cardiac function, then how long before they start knocking back applicants who are blue eyed and auburn haired? This combination is surely a minority amongst the whole human population.

 

It is time that the faceless arbiters of AVMED emerged into the real world.

 

OME

Sorry to hear that mate, seems crazy that you can drive the bus which much more people in it than a 2 seater Jabiru. I guess being fit enough to hold a drivers license is not the same as a class 2 medical at all?

 

 

[Guest jonnywallace]

Your best approach is to talk to CASA Avmed about it. I would have thought that 1-3% is a very low risk. I would have also thought the percentage risks for any undiagnosed issue or even general medical risks of a medical incident would be in that order anyway. There is no such thing as risk free. It may well be acceptable to CASA after some discussion.Talk to them and ask them if that risk is acceptable. Go to a neurological professor and get a second and third opinion and submit that with your discussions. Be prepared to spend some money though.

 

My neurologist told me that MRIs show all sorts of things that are ultimately benign and some things not so benign. Better to know than not. He said they are still learning today from what MRIs turn up.

 

I also had to have a couple of MRIs at CASAs request. It showed markers which in the end were considered normal.

I appreciate your input, thank you. I'm hoping that the low risk rate is something I can work around with them. I called to ask what was an acceptable risk, but they said there was no one minimum and that it is up to the distretion of the examiner which sounds subjective, but I understand it is not a black and white issue. Ha, yes it is certainly costing a bit, already at 1k and I am half way through :/

 

 

[turboplanner]

Hey mate, I am trading RPL at Bankstown, but I assume I need the class 2 as it is Delta airspace

Thanks Johnny, good luck with it.

 

 

[DrZoos]

RPL you need class 2

 

Pilot Cert you dont need it..

 

While ever your a student pilot your fine..once you graduate...you suddenly become unsafe for CTA and will require a RPL or to gofly elsewhere... dont ask..its just ridiculous....

 

As far as your head injury, you will be fine, you will get a class 2 approved....and you can argue the need to see a neurologist with avmed..go see your gp and get your dame both to give you a letter saying need for neurologist is unnecessary and CASa will send it to a review panel meeting to have that over turned... failing that write, write write and argue and they actually are flexible a bit...

 

3 years with no symptoms is all you need in writing ....and argue the case...the CASA Dr that initially viewed it is over zealous and creates work...the review committee has the director breathing down their necks and is subject to political pressure

 

 

[Guest jonnywallace]

RPL you need class 2Pilot Cert you dont need it..

While ever your a student pilot your fine..once you graduate...you suddenly become unsafe for CTA and will require a RPL or to gofly elsewhere... dont ask..its just ridiculous....

 

As far as your head injury, you will be fine, you will get a class 2 approved....and you can argue the need to see a neurologist with avmed..go see your gp and get your dame both to give you a letter saying need for neurologist is unnecessary and CASa will send it to a review panel meeting to have that over turned... failing that write, write write and argue and they actually are flexible a bit...

 

3 years with no symptoms is all you need in writing ....and argue the case...the CASA Dr that initially viewed it is over zealous and creates work...the review committee has the director breathing down their necks and is subject to political pressure

Thanks DrZoos, this information is incredibly helpful. At this risk of sounding uninformed - if I were to fail my class 2 medical, would I still be able to complete a Pilot Cert at an uncontrolled aerodrome, and then just stay as an RA Aus pilot, and never convert to RPL?

 

Noted on the communication with CASA - I have already gone through the motions with the Neurologist who is half way through writing the report, (I need to have one more EEG done), so I will ensure that on his report he emphasises that fact that I have been symptom free nor have ever had a seizure and see how it goes. I called CASA today to try and make some more sense of it all, but they just said the outcome rests on what the examiner believes is the right course of action.

 

 

[coljones]

You can also fly Foxbat at The Oaks to earn an RAA Pilot Certificate. Training in RAA can be counted towards an RPL/PPL subject to a flight review. Sydney Recreation Flying Club at the Oaks can be contacted on 0425 251 939.

 

The fly on weekends and most Thursdays. They have 2 Foxbat.

 

If your medical is going to be drawn out the RAA route might be better. I am not sure of the relative costs but you might find it cheaper to do your RAA cert pax and country and then have these converted to RPL + Navs. I'm not sure how you do 2hrs Instruments in a Foxbat unless they have an AI and a DI. Best of luck with your medical.

 

 

[facthunter]

AOPA have been working on this stuff for a while, and push for reform constantly. I'm a member and suggest it would be worth your while to be one too. Call them up and talk about it. Nev

 

 

[facthunter]

People who are being requested to do lots of MRI's should be aware of the downside of doing these . Nev

 

 

[Sloper]

Goodaye

 

You can drive a bus without a medical as long as you dont get paid.

 

So killing free passengers is ok but not paying ones.

 

As someone that will loose his medical when l get my first hip revision l am sure l am going to made to jump through hoops to get it back.

 

Plan B stick with RPL

 

regards Bruce

 

 

[Bernie Knight]

There is an AOPA email circulating with both information - approach to medicals - along with a petition.

 

I have not got it but signed the petition at my club.

 

Maybe some one can post and link and we all endeavor to get people to sign it.

 

Cheers

 

 

[pmccarthy]

If you have obstructive sleep apnea then you don't have to have any symptoms. The disease or problem is the sleep obstruction, symptoms would be falling asleep at the wrong times. Even if you have never had any symptoms you will have to pay $2,000 for a CPAP machine and then get an annual specialist report at more $$ to maintain your Class 2.

 

 

[Frankus1aust]

There is an Australian AOPA petition going around re Med Certs at the moment. Worth following up on. I've just past the $2,000.00 mark on CASA mandated tests over the last two years. Finally got a conditional class 2 and if I spend enough money over the next 12 months, I can get the conditions removed (maybe). So we can't say they don't negotiate. My application was delayed 3 months when the LAME handling my application had a heart attack. If you keep going you eventually get reviewed by a board of "hard case" doctors. If they see you're never going away they will eventually give it to you. The big error is to BS them. - Frank

 

 

[Happyflyer]

There is an Australian AOPA petition going around re Med Certs at the moment. Worth following up on. I've just past the $2,000.00 mark on CASA mandated tests over the last two years. Finally got a conditional class 2 and if I spend enough money over the next 12 months, I can get the conditions removed (maybe). So we can't say they don't negotiate. My application was delayed 3 months when the LAME handling my application had a heart attack. If you keep going you eventually get reviewed by a board of "hard case" doctors. If they see you're never going away they will eventually give it to you. The big error is to BS them. - Frank

There is your problem, no wonder it cost so much. The LAME is for the plane, the DAME is for you!

 

 

[facthunter]

You get this weeks "observant" award. A CASA penalty points offset voucher valid for 1 week only. Credit 10 points. (not transferable). Nev