Simplifying health arrangements

Pilots assume responsibility for lives on board aircraft and lives on the ground. Careful regulation is necessary to ensure pilots are fit to fly without unduly limiting access to the cockpit.

Industry has told us that:

• healthy pilots find it difficult to get medical clearances
• healthy pilots sometimes get caught in complex and cumbersome regulatory processes that offer little safety benefit
• we should change fatigue management rules for aerial application operators to recognise the seasonal nature of the activity and facilitate more flying hours.

Overview of reforms and timeframes

Table key:

• • (bullet circle) shows when work is planned
• Q1 ends 31 Mar
• Q2 ends 30 Jun
• Q3 ends 30 Sep
• Q4 ends 31 Dec.

Review Part 67 of CASR aviation medical policy

Initiatives under this measure include:

• consult on aviation medical standards to develop additional pathways and options for medical certification, including:
  • the potential introduction of a self-declared Class 5 medical certificate for pilots conducting kinds of private operations, aligned with private motor vehicle driver’s license medical standards
  • the potential introduction of a Class 4 medical certificate (to replace the Basic Class 2 medical certificate) involving medical assessments by Specialist GPs.

Activities and timeframes:

• Scope policy for Class 5 medical certificate by end of Q2 2023 (30 June 2023) COMPLETED
• Technical Working Group (TWG) to consider Class 5 policy by end of Q2 2023 (30 June 2023) COMPLETED
• Public consultation on Class 5 medical certificate policy by end of Q4 2023 (31 Dec 2023)
• Class 5 exemption instrument 'made' by end of Q4 2023 (31 Dec 2023)
• Timeframes for Class 4 medical certificate to be confirmed following completion of key milestones associated with the Class 5 medical certificate exemption instrument
• Timeframes for Part 67 amendment to be confirmed following completion of key milestones associated with the Class 4 medical certificate exemption instrument.

Refine CASA aviation medical policies for decision-making and certification

Initiatives under this measure include:

• consult on aviation medical standards to develop additional pathways and options for medical certification, including:
  • opportunities to increase direct certification by medical practitioners without referral to CASA
  • additional training to be developed for pilots, medical practitioners, healthcare providers and DAMEs and Specialists on approach to Class 5 and Class 4 medical certificate
  • opportunities for streamlined certification processes within CASA
  • improved communication and engagement in complex certification decisions and application of aviation medicine policy.

Activities and timeframes:

• internal data analysis and review of processes by end of Q4 2023 (31 Dec 2023)
• consult, process design, preliminary review of outcomes by end of Q1 2024 (31 Mar 2024)
• timeframes for further implementation activities are being developed.

Amend fatigue management rules for the aerial application sector

Initiatives under this measure include:

• work with industry to settle potential amendments to the fatigue management rules for the aerial application sector. This will provide more flexibility for pilots to spend more time in the air.

Activities and timeframes for this initiative are being rescoped in consultation with the Aerial Application Association of Australia and the Australian Helicopter Industry Association.