FINALLY GOT MY RPL - CASA ARE not nice

[Soleair]

Regarding CASA's rejection of both GP's & DAME's opinions, this rather begs the question of why you would hire an expert and then dispute his findings.

 

At best this demonstrates enormous arrogance - CASA knowing better than their own medical appointees - and at worse, a dereliction of duty by 'failing' anyone who has had cause for medication or consultation for more than a minor cold.

 

But presumably there are not enough votes/money/positive publicity in the RAA pool for anyone in authority to take remedial action. So the status quo continues - it's easier to say 'no' than 'yes'.

 

Live with it, or lie.

 

Bruce

 

 

[Pearo]

Regarding CASA's rejection of both GP's & DAME's opinions, this rather begs the question of why you would hire an expert and then dispute his findings.At best this demonstrates enormous arrogance - CASA knowing better than their own medical appointees - and at worse, a dereliction of duty by 'failing' anyone who has had cause for medication or consultation for more than a minor cold.

 

But presumably there are not enough votes/money/positive publicity in the RAA pool for anyone in authority to take remedial action. So the status quo continues - it's easier to say 'no' than 'yes'.

 

Live with it, or lie.

 

Bruce

Neither a GP nor a DAME are qualified to make a judgement on specialist medical issues. A Dame is a GP, and the 'General' part of GP gives that away.

 

That being said, the rejection of a specialist opinion I would regard as questionable. I do know for a fact from my own process at obtaining a Class 2, that CASA has specialists that sit on the medical advisory team, and there is a possibility of ego conflicts between doctors that are nothing to do with CASA. How you would stop this I have no idea, as it happens outside of CASA as well. I can only assume here that their medical advisers are specialists that work in the medical field and consult for CASA.

 

In my case, I had to have additional tests to prove my asthma was well managed, but my DAME was aware of how CASA would handle it (he himself was a private pilot) and instigated the tests prior to submitting the application. End result was the respiratory specialists for CASA was happy and my medical was issued. Worth noting here, that I am one of those that is certified to fly whilst using prescription drugs!

 

 

[Keenaviator]

The use of the word 'maggots' in title of this thread is a generalization and offensive.

 

Unfortunately it is a clear indication of the mentality of some of our membership and moderators.

 

Not impressed.

 

 

[Riley]

The use of the word 'maggots' in title of this thread is a generalization and offensive.Unfortunately it is a clear indication of the mentality of some of our membership and moderators.

 

Not impressed.

[Riley]

I too take umbrage at the use of the word 'maggot' to describe our CASA brethren. I consider it highly insulting and unfair toward all the hard-working maggots that perform an unpleasant task in a generally offensive environment. Maggots have a job to do and get on with it quite efficiently whilst not the same can be said of our CASA "we're here to help you" operators. Doc, on behalf of all maggots, I ask you to find a less complimentary description for these CASA minions.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Ross, its the 90% same Board, if you don't learn from your mistakes you are bound to recreate them. The best way to learn is to share the story.You stand for office not to represent yourself but to represent the members. You must tell the members how the board stuffed up MARAP, its the least you can do.

Frankly FT I'm starting to think you are nothing but a CASA plant...you have failed to identify yourself, you seem to have an unusual interest in the RAA but your not an RAA member, you don't fly....so can you give me one good reason why the lot of us shouldn't just put you on their 'ignore' list and stop putting up with your continuous dribble...??

 

 

[DrZoos]

My reference to CASA as maggots is at the organisation..not any particular individual, although Im sure there are many there.... and there are probably lots of nice people too...but the "CASA" yes is a maggot

 

CASA as an organisation is feeding on the carcass of general aviation and pilots, to grow into more blow flies and feed on it again until it is non existent....

 

And whilst i respect you right to object...I also reserve my right after such a long drawn out frustrating effort...i have never had to deal with such an inept organisation in my life!

 

 

[SSCBD]

Common sense and logic must come into this argument, don’t laugh, all of which is lacking with government. With that being said, CASA can operate to their heart’s content on the commercial side and senior commercial side of large aircraft and RPT etc on medical issues. I have no issues with this.

 

As mentioned in this thread or somewhere else as my Alzheimer’s may be affecting my memory, pilots with class I medicals have had heart attacks in the cockpit the following month and wasn’t picked up by any medical. Don’t let any medical clearance think you won’t have a heart attack.

 

Flying is risk, driving is risk, walking down the road is risk, it is all acceptable risk that we take and the government accepts every day.

 

This is general and sport aviation and we are being attacked with red tape rules and regulations that far exceeds the requirements of what some pilots want to do. Some pilots just want to be able to fly basically outside of controlled airspace away from built-up areas and if that is the case. Good for them. If you wish to go into controlled airspace or over cities, yes, something between, as in mid way of a drivers license and the current aviation med two would seem fair and reasonable to me.

 

Many, many years ago I knew a pilot that put a pill under his tongue just before he took off for angina. I did mention this over a beer with the Aviation Department guys that I used to hang around with. To my surprise, the Department knew of this person and said he is in the middle of nowhere in the back blocks and is not going to hurt anyone but himself. True story.

 

The solution to all of this is quite simple. However I will bet it will not go down well with CASA or the powers that be.

 

For our RAA pilots that are basically flying single seat aircraft outside of controlled airspace and built-up areas. There is nothing the matter with the normal driver’s license equivalent and same applies for two seat operations provided the person that is going flying with them is aware. I also don’t see the problem of flying a two seat RAA registered aircraft into controlled airspace subject to the pilot having procedures and operations to do so have been passed and equipment on board, suitable.

 

To me it makes no difference that I can drive a four-wheel drive car with five people in it and crash into a house or restaurant carrying some minor medical problem but still allows me to hold a driving license legally, it’s a risk all of us take every day with other road users. It happens I’m sorry to say but those are acceptable risks that even insurance companies cater for.

 

To be honest my thinking is the standard of class two medical certificate should be between holding a driver’s license for a car and that of the current requirement of a class two as we are not driving A380s around the sky that can wipe out half a city if they come down as the department seems to think we are.

 

And I’m sure as a backup to all of this, especially with two seaters, nothing is the matter with having a safety pilot with you that can put the aircraft down provided any medical hiccup can be dealt with by an independent specialist without months of forward and back and costs if someone has a intermediate problem as I have seen over the years. Anyway.

 

To put this in perspective which I am sure may cause an argument from the governments side is that all GA aircraft flown by private pilots up to 6 seats have a medical standard that reflects that medical conditions do occur and are controlled very well with medications that do not impose a greater risk to the general public than driving a car and don’t go overboard after a GP and or specialist has cleared it.

 

In closing I was informed while watching the news one day that the government had tested the sewers of some area in Australia. I believe in Victoria and with their science and voodoo had concluded that one in 20 people are driving their cars after taking illegal drugs, now that’s something to think about why you’re watching a car coming toward you on expressway or passing you.

 

By the way I dictated this post by using Dragon 13 voice to text as my Parkinson’s make my hands and fingers jump over the keys when typing.

 

Everyone have a good time flying and enjoy life as we will all be grounded soon enough.

 

 

[Keenaviator]

My reference to CASA as maggots is at the organisation..not any particular individual, although Im sure there are many there.... and there are probably lots of nice people too...but the "CASA" yes is a maggotCASA as an organisation is feeding on the carcass of general aviation and pilots, to grow into more blow flies and feed on it again until it is non existent....

 

And whilst i respect you right to object...I also reserve my right after such a long drawn out frustrating effort...i have never had to deal with such an inept organisation in my life!

Put that way, fair enough. Trying to get somewhere with some of these beaurocracies is emotionally very draining.

 

 

[facthunter]

They deserve criticsm, and there are plenty that agree with you. By using the term you do weaken your case, I feel. Nev

 

 

[DrZoos]

I would generally agree Nev, but sometimes silence and political correctness detract from the strength of the venom...and these guys need some serious venom...

 

 

[pmccarthy]

The worst aspect is all of the people who will not go to their doctor to investigate chest pain, or back pain, or excessive tiredness because it will trigger the sort of problems Dr Z experienced. The consequence is exactly the opposite of what CASA should be achieving.

 

 

[DrZoos]

A lower level medical for CTA and RPL is needed perhaps up to say 6 POB or anything larger than a Bonanza / 182 ish...

 

This is warranted from several view points

 

1. to keep costs down for recreational, private and trainee, struggling small CPL operations

 

2. to allow for the reduced risk - eg a cessna 182 or smaller wont destroy half of westfield and 3 city blocks and wont take out 300 people if it goes down...and as someone already said... passenger cars full of upto 8 people are driving around having accidents all the time with people having no real medical requirements or tests other than age related restrictions.

 

3. to encourage private, recreational and small CPL operators to see doctors when necessary rather than avoid it in fear of being bankrupted or having a $70-100k aircraft in a hanger they cant use, because of some overly strict ruling that assumes your flying a380's -

 

This last one is huge... my first thought now, is not I should go see the doctor...its Far out if i see the doctor and he writes this down wrong, or wants an unnecessary test to rule something out, and make his monthly quota of referrals, to get a free trip to Switzerland....i lose my ability to fly...and it shouldnt be like that. Or even if he/she is doing it for great reasons, just to be careful..this can disqualify you and make it almost impossible to get back in the air.

 

The patient and doctor should be free to talk about what ever they want and get any test done they want to rule out anything...and the pilot should only be grounded when needed or when unsafe...not because a wrong or precautionary test or medication was used as a just in case, or lets see if this helps...

 

Only when the medication, condition, symptoms affect the persons safety should the be grounded...and as soon as those safety factors are gone, the person should be free to fly again.

 

 

[facthunter]

Once you have attended for any test it is recorded as an "event" on your record. They then say "Oh I see you have had a stroke". even though the acute stroke clinic found NO evidence, and there were repercussions against the doctor who sent me there. This happened about 14 years ago and I'm still fighting it. The BEST thing any RESPONSIBLE person should do is have symptoms investigated IF you have anything you are not sure about. That was the way I did things. BUT it doesn't help your flying prospect, afterwards. . Most doctors and specialists are not inclined to view flying ultralights as sensible or safe, anyhow. There has never been a scan that showed I have had a stroke and several experts always said I haven't and those who thought I might have are not sure and think I "probably didn't" . I'm sick of the whole set up, and so is everyone I know who is in aviation in Australia. I'm not sure they will improve with Mark Skidmore. He couldn't be worse than the last incumbent, but you can't wait forever..Nev

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Zoos, imagine you are a mid-level PS working in CASA, you can see your best career option is to work your way up the ladder and then jump, in your mid 50's, over to QANTAS as a VP of government relations, where you can make the big bucks and travel the world in first class until you retire.

 

Now, imagine that dream is taken away from you by a promotion to a mid level management job in GA or worse RA. What can you do to get your airline career back on track? Work hard obviously.

 

You do what CASA want you to do: you bust as many asses as you can and wreck the dreams of as many civilian pilots as you can with whatever options you have at your disposal. Your seniour managers who are ex-RAAF, who hate civilian pilots with a passion, instantly give you points for overstepping the mark. Eventually, you will be noticed by CASA management as a real go getter when they see how many pilots you have grounded unnecessarily and they will fast track you back to airlines and airports. It's just how things work in aviation.

 

 

[sain]

Frankly FT I'm starting to think you are nothing but a CASA plant...you have failed to identify yourself, you seem to have an unusual interest in the RAA but your not an RAA member, you don't fly....so can you give me one good reason why the lot of us shouldn't just put you on their 'ignore' list and stop putting up with your continuous dribble...??

Too late.

 

 

[Dwilly]

Chipping in on this one.

 

It took 4 months for me to get my class 2 even though the DAME signed me off as fit on the first visit. Apparently they do not have the authority to sign you off so why go to them?

 

To add insult to injury the certificate was dated from when I first applied and not when it was issued. I made a formal complaint and referred it on to my Federal Member who took it up on my behalf. I had the new certificate within a couple of hours with the date of issue being the start date. So that worked even though it cost a good deal of money for reports, scans medical records etc. which simply kept reverifying what the DAME had already said

 

 

[jetjr]

Im in the middle of similar process, up to 6 months so far, DAME said he would have approved up front if it was in date renewal.

 

 

[Roundsounds]

I must be very fortunate with my CASA dealings, I let my class 1 and 2 lapse for a few years due to a couple of arthritic hips. I've had both replaced, the last in July this year, then fronted up to my DAME armed with a letter from the surgeon saying I was fit to fly. Imagine my surprise, when just short of 3 weeks following the DAME visit my class 2 medical turned up! Further to that, my son recently completed his RPC, then sent in his RPL paperwork off to CASA - his RPL arrived after 3 1/2 weeks. He already had an ARN, level 6 English and an ASIC but again, I was very surprised. These two transactions both took place early October this year.

 

Hopefully we are seeing a turnaround!

 

 

[shafs64]

I am thinking of changing my GFPT over to a RPL but I have 2 condition's that are under control but I think they would exclude me for the RPL medical.

 

 

[Pearo]

Just to add to the luck I have with CASA, PPL just turned up in the post, exactly 1 week after the test form was posted to them. I am truly amazed.

 

 

[shafs64]

I will say it again Pearo is being paid off buy CASA

 

 

[Pearo]

I will say it again Pearo is being paid off buy CASA

Let me add more. So I did the RPL endoresements for NAV, CTA and CTR. That paperwork went off the day AFTER the PPL paperwork (even though the test for the endorsements was done some 3 weeks prior, dont ask), somehow that is ALSO on the new licence.

 

 

So I did the PPL test on the 4th. Went back Monday 7th to check the paperwork had been sent (it had not been, so I personally put it in the post box late Monday afternoon), CASA issued the licence on the Thursday 10th (or at least processed it on the 10th) and I received it in the mail today which is the 15th. So from test to PPL licence was 12 days. From posting test form to receiving licence was 9 days (including AusPost processing).

 

BTW, I received an email on the 10th also, stating that CASA had billed my Credit Card for the new licence. So clearly if you have all the stuff they need to see in front of them when they receive the paperwork, stuff gets turned around reasonably quickly at the moment. My RPL took a bit longer (6 weeks) but I did not have CC details included. I only found out when I rang them to ask a question.

 

WRT to my medical it came pretty quickly too, but I credit that to my DAME for knowing how CASA operates and making me do the additional tests prior to sending off the paperwork. For what its worth, my DAME was also a pilot, but is no longer able to qualify for a medical.

 

 

[shafs64]

I did my medical two weeks ago. same as you had to do more tests. and then the doctor went on holidays for two weeks.

 

 

[Russ]

while on the topic of CASA.........learnt today that any owners that want to engage the " marap' pathway, are in for a rude shock. Casa has advised no more applications are to be processed, and this situation could be up to 1 yr.

 

this has well and truly thrown my plans to re engine my jab ( j160C ) with a camit, into the can't do basket. Just a couple of weeks ago, i was advised " can do "....easy as. ( rego was to altered to E24.... )

 

was actually setting dates etc, to get the engine changed out. ( chap cessnock way to do the job ) Casa are forcing jab owners to continue using jab engines, and just a mth or 2 ago, another brand spanking J230 ( less than 20hrs ) engine shyte itself, outlanded, tipped over.......a right royal mess. And Casa make it damn hard, if not impossible to wack in a camit...............it's got me stuffed.