rrogerramjet

I have an ARN. It is CASA who should be able to provide me instructions, surely. Why defer responsibility of the archaic, unfathomable CASA processes on a poor CFI?

?? Unless that CFI is already airside and says 'cmon in' or I could just be flying into security controlled airports under RA Aus. I think you've missed the point of my.post.

For your Sunday afternoon amusement.. I'm training for PPL and had been asked to get ASIC just to make it easier to get onto airport. Innocently, I submitted all my paperwork to CASA. I forgot to sign one form and get it witnessed so it took another 10 days or so for them to even look at my application, and the response was 'We need your PPL or RPL number' As I had explained in my form I was seeking PPL endorsement, but they didnt bother to even read that until I'd gone around and sent them the final details. Why is everything so serially processed with CASA? So I rang and the loverly lady then explained that their group will only supply an ASIC against a CASA endorsement, nothing on their Web page or forms submitted about this. She then explained that if I got a letter from my flight training school explaining I was a student they could check if that flight school was CASA approved and then 'maybe' they could issue an ASIC on that basis. So I asked, rather than waste me and my CFI's time, can you just tell me if xxx flight school is CASA endorsed? No I would have to have the letter first, the loverly girl responds. So, loverly lady, can you tell me, as the CASA authority on such matters, who or how else I could get an ASIC prior to having an RPL or PPL number so I can get onto an airfield to actually obtain one of these magical certifications? No. We only issue ASIC against approved CASA registrations. You could speak to your governing body for whatever flight endorsement you have. You mean RA Aus? Well, if that is your governing body, you would have to speak to them. the loverly lady says, 'helpfully' And from hereon the conversation became increasinvly obtuse, with her unable to provide any clear and concise guidance on what I should or could do. Oh ffs, why didn't you explain any of that up front. Can you just send me all my paperwork back thanks. Sure. She says. So, I still don't know who's going to issue me an ASIC when RA Aus stop doing it. As I've noted in another rant/post, CASA is broken.

Ok, maybe I havent been abundantly clear here, it seems others are demonstrating some cognitive bias suggesting I want free medical services, especially from those hardworking DAMEs.....so I'll write slowly and carefully...in dot points for simplicity. - avmed team are Dr's (apparently) - avmed assessment says 'go and see a specialist' - not the DAME. ....still with me folks...? -so avmed should be providing the referral letter. They're the referring Doctor. - or allow the DAME to do it simply and easily. - I dont need to waste 2hrs of my time and 1hr of a GPs to get a letter saying 'go see someone else', that is disgustingly inefficient. - Anyone who says that is a good business model or an efficient methodology, probably works on a fully unionised council roadworks crew. (apologies in advance to all unionised road crew members) - The system is broken. So where did I say in this or any previous post I wanted free medical services??

Dont forget the CASA demanded specialist referrals. And the revisitations to update simple detaills. I went back to my DAME who charged me $130 for a specialist referral. Apparently that requires a visit and an hour... can't do it via phone call or email? The system is broken.

All this seems to be is preposition CASA to claim that no change is required to the current methodology, indeed possibly to raise the bar for RA and RPL. As an open minded discussion paper it seems to be unequivocally telegraphing CASA bias towards greater regulations in many statements. I have only just begun to read the paper (2 days after submissions closed...bugger) but, besides at least another year or two of review, I can't envisage many/any changes coming. Indeed I am increasingly of the belief that CASAs catchphrase of 'Safe skies for all' is merely truncated, '...all RPT' and everyone else can they please get out of the sky. The avmed model does two things: a) is part of this hidden mission statement to ground GA and keep them out of RPT flightpath, easier than providing flight tracking or any situational awareness by Airservices. b) setup over years by the medical fraternity to drive up their business model. Highly paid medical bureaucrats (eg Navanthe) simply supporting their mates incomes. Let's look at some of these statements in isolation, I am going to read the whole document today, so I may yet come back with a modified opinion, but these excerpts don't look encouraging. .....may also need to weigh up the aeromedical consequences of such an expansion and its possible consequences for other airspace users and third parties not associated with the operation of the aircraft... (Aeromedical? Is that even a word?) ....For example, pilots who are refused a class 2 medical certificate often still fly RA-Aus registered aircraft. There have been several recent medically related fatalities in the latter group..... (but no evidence provided) The US Aerospace Medical Association has contested this claim........Moderate to severe medical hazards identified by autopsy were found in 25% of medically certified pilots but in 60% of uncertified pilots.... (Here's some actual data, which supports our predisposed view, however we are scant on any other data and challenge everyone else's as unreliable) .....UK assessment bases many of its assertions on a premise which supports the outcome, namely, the assumption that people who feel unwell will not fly.... (Claiming 'assertions' and 'presumptions' on a 'premise', none of which can be trusted) ....The risk assessment also identifies a very low accident rate attributed to medical incapacitation however this accident rate occurs within an environment where more stringent entry control medical conditions are in effect..... (Ie There are statistics and statistics, and we prefer our own deductions on these ones) Relaxation of the existing requirements will rely more heavily on the integrity and professionalism of the pilot ensuring that they are medically fit for the planned activity..... (Ie. We don't trust any of you pilots, you all lie about medical conditions, based on the blatant evidence in numerous online forums such as this one) Deregulation of medical certification requirements for the general and sport/recreational aviation sectors may need to be supported by extensive pilot education (Ie If we go this direction our 'extensive' education will be so bureaucratic and onerous you will wish you had Class2 avmed back) Advice from the industry is that there have been only 3–4 cases of medical incapacitation in over 450,000 landings by RA-Aus members, although it is not clear on what basis this claim is made.... (Questioning others data without presenting any of their own to refute)

Came across this post in my hunt about avmed status..wish I'd researched internet more thoroughly BEFORE going for my Class2 and I wouldve learnt to be as circumspect as possible at the test to avoid further scrutiny. As a new entrant to PPL I am 'grounded' with absolutely no guarantee that CASA will find me fit to fly. I think a big warning should be on CASA website- "Complete and recieve your class2 medical before comnencing ANY PPL/CPL flight training as we cannot guarantee you will ever be granted a medical clearance to fly, or if so may come at sigificant additional expense to you." Which is all the more confusing given I went flying the very next week after recieving my initial assesment advice in RAAus over some of the very same routes I intend to fly GA ! What really does my head in is why am I seeing a DAME for CASA to simply come back and ask more questions, some of them already dealt with in the MRS responses and some I could have completed there and then, and not got on the pathology/specialist roundabout. My results have come back demanding: a) optometrist prescription. Fair call. I just failed the N4 near sight test. The optometrist said its very marginal, indeed still within the range of most peoples 'normal' vision (i.e. mine was particularly good in years past) and she wouldnt even bother with issuing lenses at this time, but CASA will demand it of course. b) I admitted to having mild asthma, carry a ventolin for those very rare occassions. Discussed with the doctor, have had condition for years, no biggie. Not incapacitating, never really has been. Surprise, CASA want a full pre / post bronchodilator spirometry test. c) Suffered a very common cancer back in 1997. All gone, no further treatment ever required, no monitoring. 20 years ago. Surprise! CASA want to know if I have any further treatment or monitoring. (At this point we begin to seriously wonder whether they even bothered to read mine and the DAME notes in my MRS record right?) d)ECG stress test. Because I rate >14 on their scale I am up for what I hear is a rather expensive test. I have a heart like Pharlap (Multiple Dr's have commented before) with a perfectly normal blood pressure and low resting heart rate. I exercise consistently and probably more regularly than the vast majority of late 40's males ( by the looks of all those portly rounded guys my age, or less) If this test finds anything useful I will be both annoyed and maybe somewhat a little grateful. e)I admitted to irrregularly having 'one too many' (i.e. more than 4 std drinks according to NHMRC) based on the fact that I sometimes have Friday afternoon beers after work and now and then on a weekend have been known to top off a bottle of wine whilst out to dinner. Is that too much? Sure, probably is. Do I do it before flying? Hell no! Isnt there an .02 limit for GA, just like driving? Surprise! CASA want a liver function test AND a CDT test, which is usually the preserve of testing for chronic alcohol dependence. Im kinda insulted, but hey if that comes back positive mb I will need to reassess my drinking habits....or easier, ignore them and keep my RAAus licence. :) Meanwhile, should the CASA medical fraternity ever see me fit to fly I'll be driving my car at 110kmh down the highway to the airfield and jumping in the RAAus plane to fly all over the regular routes that CASA seem to have some serious caution and concern about me doing at maybe 10knts faster in a GA aircraft. Go figure. As an aside, I had no idea at the time who he was or how loved he was by the flying fraternity, I am friends with one of Dr Navanthes' sons and have had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times before he took off to Newcastle....if only I had known, I could have given he and his ridiculously restrictive and incongruent avmed system a mouthful! Opportunity missed.... Fly safe! Ramjet

Actually it wasn't that simple from what I remember, which is why I didn't bother again. (edited by Mod)

My 2c.. I havent read it since it went digital. I tried once and if I remember correctly it was all too bothersome and clunky to access. And I am a digital native, I read everything online, so that's really saying something. Did I find it a worthwhile read?, absolutely, Im probably missing heaps of valuable content. Do I even know where to go and read SP now? I have no idea, I vaguely remember having to login somewhere with some new account details? So now I am totally disconnected from my representative organisation except for the odd email I sometimes see slide by in my ever busy inbox. I think the removal of physical presence in going digital has significantly diminished the brand awareness. Cheers R

Hilarious, given the busted use case on their portal, if your membership lapses you cant login! So the extra effort required to renew costs the member $22. Perverse. Still, I understand the driver.... I wont comment on the failure to issue PC card, even though the letter in the envelope said 'please find enclosed your card' then on follow up advised has been withheld because no evidence of BFR, which they didn't ask for when I was standing in their office paying! Advised I was still covered to fly, but cant send a card without BFR evidence. Totally contradictory and pointless, either I am a valid member or not. They ahould not have accepted my fee payment if they required BFR evidence. When I do submit BFR evidence I recieve service promise of 5day turnaround. 10 days later I have to ring them and noone has seen my email. They did finally call me back and advised all ok. Dont know why I bothered. It certainly cost me a lot more than $22 to follow up their incompetence. Ooops, too late, I commented... Fly safe Ramjet

No offense, and I'm sure Ive done it myself at least once...maybe twice "oh hell that doesnt seem right"... 2 minutes out "Holy crap" and then shortly after "wow" , self talk setting yourself up for failure, or at least some heightened concern/stress you don't need. hey, Im no psychologist, but next time how about "Gee, there is some strong cross wind, so I am going to have to drop a wing, crab it in, and really have my rudders on the play here" So maybe thats exactly what you were thinking, but if I'm a passenger and I hear 'Holy crap" from the pilot, what am I now thinking? Fly safe Ramjet

And all this well intentioned blah says is, gain experience, test yourself, but *Conditions Apply: do that too far/too much and you may end up dead. Practice is great, until that practice becomes an emergency. Fly safe Ramjet

So..perfectly normal landing then ? ;-)

Im on j230 now for RA. absolutely, yes. Moreso with the new Senesich? prop installed. Try a 172xp which turns up so much torque there is actually a lever you set for right rudder on takeoff! Then you pull left aileron as you roll to keep the whole thing level, very interesting. Fly safe Ramjet

Correct. RAAus is all good experience. And if youre flying out of Wagga? , its relatively busy, so good circuit and radio experience.

Sure does. Again, the expectation may be a little higher. My PPL CFI wants me to do a nav, just so hes confident in ticking off my PPL. It's his reputation (and plane!) after all. Also we'll be using DME and GPS panel, and flying into ATC at a busy RPT airport, not a chart, e6b and ruler to get me to the next grass airstrip ! Fly safe Ramjet

First landings... Seemed easy, til I discovered CFI was easing me in with controls on the side. First solo was a sweaty panic, with no help I managed to pull a sweet greasy....all 3 at once. And I still do that occassionallyy....gotta pull back on that stick! Ballooning... Did it once, never again, 2nd bounce - a go around straight up. Lesson learnt...if you aint coming in nice get out of there! Crosswinds.... Went up one arvo for some quick circuits and emergecy practice, wind came up to 20kn gusts and for all my 3 attempts couldnt stick it on the runway, I just wasnt comfortable, a better pilot may have pulled it off - go around! (multiple) As I'd made my decision to use the cross runway, CFI on ground radioed me to suggest using cross runway. I was 10 seconds ahead of him. :) Pulled off absolute perfect landing, best ever to this day, straight into 20-25kn gusts. Lesson learnt... find another option (whilst fuel remains) Now.... Over threshold, stall warning, hold her up, drop the back 2 and feel it settle in...niiice. And mostly consistent. Circuits might seem boring but they get you back on the ground alive! Thanks for the vid tips, I need to buy some kit to show you my 'bad landings' ! Fly safe Ramjet

Hi Jayke, I went down (am still) same path.... Is the RAAUS certificate a requirement to then apply for the license? RAAus is a completely different authority. RAAus pilots certificate allows you to fly LSA under the 24 registration (or 19, but I wont go into that here) Its a pilots 'licence' but very limited and specific to 24 reg aircraft and where yoi can fly, non CTA ie, G area. Is an RPL completely different to the certificate? RPL is completely different, you fly VH reg planes like say a Cessna, but RPL also has limitations, but you can fly 'real airplanes' (VH) out of 'real airports' , presuming you have correct endorsements. If you are intending to get your full VH PPL the path through RAAus pilot certificate can (not always) be a very cost effective entry point as you can gain things like radio cert, nav cert and pax cert (take passengers) at much cheaper cost. That said, as I am discovering, things like radio calls can be much more stringent when flying into/out of 'real airports' so whilst you are certified under RAAus there is often much more to learn, and the ramp up between some country airfield and a 'real airport' with strict regimes is a whole different ball game. All said though, RAAus gets you flying and experience, often at 1/2 to 3/4 the cost of the RPL/PPL pathway. Hope that helps. Fly safe Ramjet

Try again... Here what happens.. E190 near collision Mildura May 16 - ASI bulletin 56 - PPRuNe Forums Apologies on my mobile..

Agreed. And after a time one will get the knack, in the interim, just ask and fly safe

Before anyone crossthreads with some of my other posts, I was not PIC on Hawaii flights, merely a very interested (and maybe a little active) observer. :-)

Before we head off into the esoteric ( as some posters here are deigned to do,) ATC are there to keep YOU , and others, safe. So ask. If unsure, ask again. That's their job. I've had exactly this experience in both Hawaii, HNL (Honolulu) and HTO (Hilo) just ask, and if unclear, ask again. It's not about you being a perfect pilot with perfect radio calls understanding all the nuances in replies, but everyone's safety. Flysafe Ramjet

Hi Call me simple, it's always ok to confirm your intentions ( I. e. ask) with tower. They'll very quickly tell you if otherwise. I.e. 'CALLSIGN Roger, clear to continue descent and enter circuit' Ramjet

Thanks. Ill have to look into some of that kit. Watched a few of your youtube clips. Loved the bad landings! I still pull a few of them, though I never have to go around anymore. (not lately anyway...)

On 2nd thoughts, without avmed I can't solo, so there's 2 or so hrs of instrument flying, a few circuits and maneuvers and we are done, baring tests. (presuming competency) My RA hours, XC and Radio certs are all transferable right? Cheers R