[Peetwo]

St Commode adopts NZed standards (for CVD Pilots) - WTD? 

Via the Fort Fumble missive: https://www.casa.gov.au/publications-and...ruary-2020

Dear crminals, peasants and fellow sinners...

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A solution has been found to a somewhat thorny and long-running issue that is important to a group of pilots. The issue is colour vision deficiency and the way CASA manages safety related assessments as part of the medical certification process. Colour vision deficiency affects about 400 Australian pilots and a three-stage testing process has been in place for some time, with a pass at any stage allowing an unrestricted medical to be issued. Where all three tests are failed then a medical certificate can be issued subject to conditions.

Research in recent years has shown relying on diagnostic tests alone may be unnecessarily limiting when considering the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety. Advances in technology, operating techniques and human factors training can now mitigate many of the safety risks of colour vision deficiency. Technology to assist pilots has developed significantly and the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety should take these changes into account. These factors have been recognised overseas, most recently in New Zealand where a new approach to colour vision deficiency came into effect in May 2019, which includes an operational colour vision assessment. This assessment comprises a ground-based assessment and an in-flight assessment which looks at a pilot’s ability to interpret visual information. A separate assessment is done for day flying and for night flying.

We have decided to adopt this approach to colour vision deficiency assessment and in the short term we will recognise the New Zealand operational colour vision assessment as an alternative to Australia’s current third level of testing. Work is already well underway on the development of an Australian operational test for colour vision deficiency by mid-2020. Any Australian pilots who wish to use the New Zealand assessment can do so now, although it will require travel to that country. CASA has carefully examined all relevant safety issues and believes this new approach offers a practical alternative assessment for colour vision deficient pilots. We have listened to the views of pilots and made judgements based on research and evidence.

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And/or via Oz Flying:

 

CASA throws a Lifeline to CVD Pilots
28 February 2020
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CASA has proposed a new solution for assessing the impact of colour-vision deficiency (CVD) in pilots.

Pilots with CVD have been subject to a three-stage testing process in the past, which organisations such as the Colour Vision Deficiency Pilots Association (CVDPA) have long railed against because it was purely diagnostic.

Now CASA is proposing that the impacts of CVD be assessed in flight also.

"Research in recent years has shown relying on diagnostic tests alone may be unnecessarily limiting when considering the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety," said CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Shane Carmody in his February CASA Briefing newsletter.

"Advances in technology, operating techniques and human factors training can now mitigate many of the safety risks of colour vision deficiency. Technology to assist pilots has developed significantly and the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety should take these changes into account.

"These factors have been recognised overseas, most recently in New Zealand where a new approach to colour vision deficiency came into effect in May 2019, which includes an operational colour vision assessment. This assessment comprises a ground-based assessment and an in-flight assessment which looks at a pilot’s ability to interpret visual information. A separate assessment is done for day flying and for night flying."

The CVDPA has been critical of the Aviation Colour Perception Standard that was put in place around 90 years ago, saying the testing was "inherently flawed" and that there is now evidence that CVD doesn't impact a pilot's operational ability to the extent that CASA has presumed.

CASA has said it is working on an Australian operational assessment system, which it hopes to complete by mid-2020, but in the meantime is prepared to accept the NZ test in lieu of the third tier of testing currently in place.

..Work is already well underway on the development of an Australian operational test for colour vision deficiency by mid-2020...

Hmm..here's a unique idea why not just adopt the NZed system? And while they've got the rule books out, why stop there? - Why not just adopt all of their regs and regionally accepted/adopted air safety standards?   

 MTF...P2