A righteous result…
There are quite a few folk who are (and many more who should be) following a well written series of posts by C. McKenzie Esq. and others – HERE - related to pilot medical certification.
No matter under which civil aviation jurisdiction you operate in a ‘medical’ is a fact of a pilot’s life – inescapable – in one form or another, the pilot must be demonstrably ‘fit’ to fly. In both theory and fact, this is not a bad notion. Many hold, or have held medical certification issued by more than one regulator and have first hand experience of the ‘process’ in the USA, UK, Europe, Africa and even Asia – across the planet. Without fail everyone bemoans the Australian ‘system’. But, I need to clarify that: the actual requirements of the ‘medical’ stand alone are not onerous; but what the Avmed administration can do with ‘paperwork’ and results defies logic; what can happen in an appeal against a ‘silly’ ruling during an AAT hearing beggars imagination.
There is a strong safety case against the Avmed system which should be prosecuted until Avmed is forced, by law if need be, to modify their counterproductive behaviour. Here’s why.
How many non aviation or transport folk (Muggles) do you know who have a heart check up every half year; who have their eyes checked every second year; or, their blood sugar levels checked every year – if they’re not feeling poorly? Not too many I’d wager. But, when you think about it – no matter what you do, these are essential checks and ‘catching’ a potential killer, like heart attack, early is not only sensible, but it would save a small fortune. No one, blokes in particular likes to be trotting off to local vet every time their bowel movement is delayed, or their head aches, or they have a tummy ache; mostly the three day rule applies – if ‘whatever’ persists for longer the sensible majority will make an appointment and get it sorted. Ask your life insurance company if you can't believe me. It is, IMO, is a thing which needs to be actively promoted. Enter the dragon.
Avmed are making this ‘routine’ self maintenance a thing of fear, more and more folk are disregarding early warnings of a serious impending condition, just in case a prescribed ‘treatment’ is viewed as a licence cancelling ‘thing’ by Avmed - despite expensive specialist advice to the contrary. This is where the wheels come off. I know lot of blokes who have had their ‘medical’ saved through the DAME check up system, many who have caught a potential for damaged eyesight through the eye check, many who have had heart problems caught early enough to prevent serious ramifications. In short, regular medical health checks are a good thing. Proper early diagnosis and effective treatment even better; specialist, qualified medical advice should be enough for Avmed to support the issue of a medical certificate. Ask your life insurance company if you can't believe me.
The other down side is Clinton’s case – what a kerfuffle – no one should be subjected to that. Yet the Avmed section of CASA keeps the AAT very busy. This is also counterproductive and detrimental to the well being of aircrew. The very thought of having to prosecute a case through the AAT system is enough to keep aircrew silent about any ailment and simply put up with it, keep going and keep very quiet about whatever ails ‘em.
The logic is flawed; particularly so when ‘statistics’ are analysed. For example, the greatest cause of pilot incapacitation is ‘Gastro’ – now, if that is caused by a crook prawn and is not a repeat event – who’d worry? But – and here’s the rub – suppose it becomes a regular event? The sensible man would trot off to the local vet, get it sorted and get on with life unless it was sinister; then whatever treatment and prognosis was issued by the specialist treating should be enough for anyone – diagnosis, treatment, prognosis – end of; and enough for any man – except CASA Avmed. Now the battle commences, reinstatement of the medical certificate a mountain of epic proportions – where the opinion of your highly qualified, expert, experienced specialist becomes a plaything for CASA legal to decry, provided that is you afford the cost of defending the specialist opinion, after paying for that opinion.
I say, Jolly well done Clinton a great effort on behalf of the vast silent majority. I sincerely hope the effort is not squandered on those who are too terrified to speak out against the clearly flawed, destructive system Avmed have built and fiercely defend.
A key to the Tim-Tam cupboard has been awarded, along with your gold start. Thank you.
Toot – toot.
There are quite a few folk who are (and many more who should be) following a well written series of posts by C. McKenzie Esq. and others – HERE - related to pilot medical certification.
No matter under which civil aviation jurisdiction you operate in a ‘medical’ is a fact of a pilot’s life – inescapable – in one form or another, the pilot must be demonstrably ‘fit’ to fly. In both theory and fact, this is not a bad notion. Many hold, or have held medical certification issued by more than one regulator and have first hand experience of the ‘process’ in the USA, UK, Europe, Africa and even Asia – across the planet. Without fail everyone bemoans the Australian ‘system’. But, I need to clarify that: the actual requirements of the ‘medical’ stand alone are not onerous; but what the Avmed administration can do with ‘paperwork’ and results defies logic; what can happen in an appeal against a ‘silly’ ruling during an AAT hearing beggars imagination.
There is a strong safety case against the Avmed system which should be prosecuted until Avmed is forced, by law if need be, to modify their counterproductive behaviour. Here’s why.
How many non aviation or transport folk (Muggles) do you know who have a heart check up every half year; who have their eyes checked every second year; or, their blood sugar levels checked every year – if they’re not feeling poorly? Not too many I’d wager. But, when you think about it – no matter what you do, these are essential checks and ‘catching’ a potential killer, like heart attack, early is not only sensible, but it would save a small fortune. No one, blokes in particular likes to be trotting off to local vet every time their bowel movement is delayed, or their head aches, or they have a tummy ache; mostly the three day rule applies – if ‘whatever’ persists for longer the sensible majority will make an appointment and get it sorted. Ask your life insurance company if you can't believe me. It is, IMO, is a thing which needs to be actively promoted. Enter the dragon.
Avmed are making this ‘routine’ self maintenance a thing of fear, more and more folk are disregarding early warnings of a serious impending condition, just in case a prescribed ‘treatment’ is viewed as a licence cancelling ‘thing’ by Avmed - despite expensive specialist advice to the contrary. This is where the wheels come off. I know lot of blokes who have had their ‘medical’ saved through the DAME check up system, many who have caught a potential for damaged eyesight through the eye check, many who have had heart problems caught early enough to prevent serious ramifications. In short, regular medical health checks are a good thing. Proper early diagnosis and effective treatment even better; specialist, qualified medical advice should be enough for Avmed to support the issue of a medical certificate. Ask your life insurance company if you can't believe me.
The other down side is Clinton’s case – what a kerfuffle – no one should be subjected to that. Yet the Avmed section of CASA keeps the AAT very busy. This is also counterproductive and detrimental to the well being of aircrew. The very thought of having to prosecute a case through the AAT system is enough to keep aircrew silent about any ailment and simply put up with it, keep going and keep very quiet about whatever ails ‘em.
The logic is flawed; particularly so when ‘statistics’ are analysed. For example, the greatest cause of pilot incapacitation is ‘Gastro’ – now, if that is caused by a crook prawn and is not a repeat event – who’d worry? But – and here’s the rub – suppose it becomes a regular event? The sensible man would trot off to the local vet, get it sorted and get on with life unless it was sinister; then whatever treatment and prognosis was issued by the specialist treating should be enough for anyone – diagnosis, treatment, prognosis – end of; and enough for any man – except CASA Avmed. Now the battle commences, reinstatement of the medical certificate a mountain of epic proportions – where the opinion of your highly qualified, expert, experienced specialist becomes a plaything for CASA legal to decry, provided that is you afford the cost of defending the specialist opinion, after paying for that opinion.
I say, Jolly well done Clinton a great effort on behalf of the vast silent majority. I sincerely hope the effort is not squandered on those who are too terrified to speak out against the clearly flawed, destructive system Avmed have built and fiercely defend.
A key to the Tim-Tam cupboard has been awarded, along with your gold start. Thank you.
Toot – toot.