Results of the review of the Class 2 Medical Certification System
People in the aviation industry have given strong support to a proposal for CASA to become less involved in the management of Class 2 medical certificates.
More than 82 per cent of people who responded to a CASA discussion paper on the proposal would prefer to see Class 2 medicals issued by authorised aviation doctors.
A total of 628 people responded to the discussion paper, which was put out for comment in June 2006.
The discussion paper contained four options for the management of private pilot medical certificates, ranging from maintaining a high level of CASA involvement to delegating most of the functions to designated aviation medical examiners.
CASA issued the discussion paper to start a debate on finding ways to create a simpler and more cost effective system for delivering private pilot medicals.
Overall, only 2.5 per cent of respondents supported the current $130 medical fee and only 4 per cent want the current system retained with a flat fee charged by CASA.
Support for some other options put forward in the discussion paper was also low – 11 per cent agreeing with different fees being charged for different levels of medical certificate work and 9.4 per cent supporting a two-tier designated aviation medical examiner system.
Only option 4 – the proposal for all aviation doctors to be able to issue Class 2 medicals – received strong support from respondents.
Overall, 82.5 per cent of people agreed with this proposal, although the support amongst doctors was lower, at 62 per cent. Doctors raised some concerns about insurance liability and data management.
The results are now being analysed in detail by CASA, with more work required on a range of issues such as systems needed to maintain record keeping, training for doctors and appropriate guidance material.