In order to exercise the privileges of a Flight Crew Licence or Air Traffic Control or Flight Service Licences, it is necessary to hold a medical certificate at the standard appropriate to the licence held. Designated aviation medical practitioners perform the necessary medical examinations for the medical certificate application under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).
The persons appointed by CASA to perform these examinations are known as DAMEs or Designated Aviation Ophthalmologists (DAOs). They are responsible to CASA through its Principal Medical Officer (PMO), who oversees the administration of DAMEs and DAOs.
'Credentialed'Â DAMEs and DAOs
In order to meet CASA's needs and the needs of applicants for medical certification, regulation 67.055 of the CASR also enables CASA to declare appropriately qualified persons to be taken to be a DAME . Â
Under regulation 67.075 of the CASR, certain optometrists can also be declared to be taken to be a DAO, so that they can perform the examinations carried out by DAOs. These persons are known as Credentialed Optometrists (COs). If you wish to be credentialed as a CO contact Optometry Australia for details of training courses. See also discussion on 'Locum approvals'Â in Chapter 5.6, which is also dealing with the credentialed persons.
Delegation to issue Class 2 medical certificates
By CASA 26/18 — Issue of class 2 medical certificates (Designated Aviation Medical Examiners) delegation 2018, CASA delegated to all DAMEs the power to issue a Class 2 medical certificate, conditional on certain requirements in the delegation being met.
All DAMEs have the ability to assess and issue, where appropriate, Class 2 medical certificates, as a CASA delegate. Training and other requirements are detailed below. A DAME has a choice as to whether to issue a Class 2 medical certificate as a delegate of CASA.
Medical practitioners are required to maintain suitable professional indemnity insurance for cover of $20 million. Evidence of this cover may be required (see DAME Handbook Chapter 12).
To request appointment or reappointment as a DAME or DAO, complete Application for appointment or reappointment as Designated Aviation Medical Examiner or Designated Aviation Ophthalmologist form 755. Intending applicants may wish first to obtain additional information from the CASA DAME Liaison Officer using our aviation medical enquiries webform.
Training Requirements—DAMEs and DAOs
All DAME applicants must meet the requirements of regulation 67.045 of CASR before being able to be appointed as a DAME. They must have undergone an acceptable course of training.
All DAO applicants must meet the requirements of regulation 67.0465 of CASR before being able to be appointed as a DAME.Â