Aerospace medicine professionals examine pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation industry personnel who require medical certification. Medical examinations are to ensure aviation personal meet the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
Aerospace medicine professionals
As an approved practitioner, you are accountable to the CASA Principal Medical Officer (PMO). The PMO oversees the administration of the aviation medicine system.
The medical professionals who examine aviation personnel are:
- Designated Aviation Medical Examiners (DAMEs)
- Designated Aviation Ophthalmologists (DAOs)
- Credentialed Optometrists (COs).
You must apply to become a DAME or DAO.
Designated Aviation Medical Examiners (DAMEs)
DAMEs conduct medical examinations and issue certificates for fitness to return to flying under CASR Part 67.
As a DAME, you:
- personally conduct the applicants medical examination
- discuss the applicant’s medical history and medical record with the applicant
- refer applicants for follow-up testing when required
- respond to questions from applicants about their illness or medical conditions.
You must send relevant information to CASA within a reasonable period of time. Usually not more than 14 days after you examine the patient.
You are also expected to:
- undertake appropriate aviation medicine continuing professional development (CPD)
- read the Examiner Newsletter and all correspondence from the Office of Aviation Medicine
- familiarise yourself with the DAME Handbook and CASR Part 67
- abide by the AMA code of conduct
- advise CASA of any changes to contact details, location and availability.
You must comply with all the conditions outlined in DAME conditions of appointment.
Designated Aviation Ophthalmologists (DAOs)
The DAO conditions of appointment outlines the responsibilities and requirements as a DAO under CASR Part 67.
Credentialed Optometrists (COs)
Credentialed Optometrists (COs) are approved to perform all examinations usually carried out by DAOs.
Optometry Australia provides the training, administration and oversight of these COs. They also oversee the application process to become a CO and maintain their credentials.
To apply to become a CO, or for more information, visit Optometry Australia.
DAME delegate for the issue of class 2 medical certificates
A DAME may issue a Class 2 medical certificate to an applicant if the DAME (a DAME delegate) holds a current instrument of delegation from CASA permitting it.
The process for a DAME delegate to issue a medical certificate is set out in Chapter 12 of the DAME Handbook. The instrument of delegation may only be used for Class 2 medical certificates OR Class 2 as part of Class 1. Only CASA may assess for, and issue, Class 1 and Class 3 medical certificates.
If you want to become a DAME delegate for the issue of class 2 medical certificates, access the AviationWorx eLearning system through online services.
-
Aircraft
-
Aircraft registration
- Change, transfer or cancel aircraft registration
- Data files for registered aircraft
- Ferry flight registrations
- Find a registered aircraft
- Guidance for deceased estates
- Irrevocable deregistration and export request authorisation (IDERA)
- Register your aircraft
- Registered aircraft operators
- Registration marks
- Request a copy of your registration certificate
- Airworthiness
- Certification
- Design and manufacturing
- Sport aviation
-
Aircraft registration
- Drones
-
Licences and certificates
- Pilots
- Radio operators
- Air traffic controllers
-
Air operators
- Aerial application air operator's certificate
- Aerial work certificate (Part 138)
- Air transport air operator's certificate
- Alternative pathway for specialised endorsements
- Balloon air operator's certificate
- Flight training operators
- Foreign operators
- Guidance for Part 91 approvals
- Operators specialised endorsements alternative pathway
- Replace air operator's certificate
- Training pilots specialised endorsements alternative pathway
- Pilots using the specialised endorsements alternative pathway
- Delegates
-
Maintenance engineers
- About aircraft maintenance engineers
- Aircraft maintenance engineer exams
- Aircraft maintenance engineer licence (Part 66)
- Apply for a Part 66 licence
- Become a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer
- Maintenance of composite structures
- Part 66 and working for a Part 145 organisation
- Part 66 self-study training and examination pathway
- Recognition of prior learning
- Removing exclusions
- Modular licensing for aircraft maintenance engineers
- Part 66 modular aircraft maintenance engineer licence pathways
- Flight examiners
- Flight instructors
-
Aviation medicals
- Additional medical tests
- Audit of medical certificates
- Classes of medical certificate
- Clinical case conference panel
- Complaints and objection to medical decision
- Endorsements on a medical certificate
- Find a medical or eye examiner
- Medical certificate fees, payments and processing
- Medical certification for age over 60
- Report a change of a medical condition
- Renew a medical certificate
- The medical certification process
- Class 5 medical self-declaration
- Colour vision assessment for medical certificates
- Explaining operational limitations for Class 5 medical self-declaration
-
Medical practitioners and examiners
- Austroads standard medical for pilots
- Become a DAME or DAO
- DAME's clinical practice guidelines
- DAME conditions of appointment
- DAO conditions of appointment
- ECG guidance for DAMEs
- Eligibility and training for DAMEs an DAOs
- Maintaining your designation
- Medical reports and case reviews
- Protocol for pilots with type 1 diabetes
- Responsibilities of DAMEs and DAOs
- Aviation reference numbers
- English language standards
- Fee payment options
-
Operations, safety & travel
- Aerodromes
- Airspace
- Aviation safety for pilots
- Safety Management Systems
-
Safety advice
- Cabin safety
- Carriage or discharge of firearms on aircraft
- Community service flights
- COVID-19 advice for industry
- Dangerous goods and air freight
- Displays and events
- Drug and alcohol management
- Electronic flight bag
- Fatigue management
- Hazard identification and management
- Human factors and safety behaviours
- 5G and aviation safety
- Mercy fights and operating in an emergency
- Consumer and passenger advice
- Aeronautical information management
- Training and checking systems
-
Rules
- Regulatory framework
- Rules by category
- Rules by status
- Rules by type
- Changing the rules
-
Compliance and enforcement
- Delegated authority in support of aviation safety investigations
- Enforcement action
- How to comply with the rules
- Recent enforcement actions
- Safety information policy statement
- Sharing safety information
- Strict liability
- Surveillance
- Submitting significant and non-significant changes
- Voluntary suspensions
- Recent enforcement actions
- Reporting illegal behaviour
- Resources & education
-
About us
- Who we are
- Who we work with
- News and media
-
Reporting and accountability
- Environmental management and performance
- Freedom of information
- Gift and benefits register
- List of CASA files
- Portfolio budget statements
- Register of privacy impact assessments
- Regulator Performance Framework
- Senate order on agency contracts
- Service standards
- Statement of commitment to child safety
- Work health and safety policy statement
- Protecting the environment
- External security vulnerability disclosure program
- Careers
- Sponsorship and scholarship
- About this website
- Contact us
- Events
- Subscribe