CASA Website > Avmed > Dames > Handbook > 5.4 Medical Certificate Revalidation (Extension)

5.4 Medical Certificate Revalidation (Extension)

DAMEs are not permitted to revalidate medical certificates endorsed 'Renew by CASA only'. Affected applicants are encouraged to return to the DAME for early review, leaving adequate time for CASA to receive the periodic medical assessment and any other required reports and to make a determination on fitness for renewed medical certification.

DAMEs are permitted to revalidate medical certificates endorsed 'For CASA Audit' provided that the DAME feels comfortable doing so. Affected applicants are encouraged to return to the DAME for early review, leaving adequate time for the DAME to review the periodic medical assessment and any other required reports and to make a determination on fitness for renewed medical certification. The DAME may revalidate the medical certificate, but CASA will audit the medical before issuance. If the medical is unable to be audited within the period of the extension provided, the medical certificate will lapse.

On completion of the medical assessment, provided that the applicant appears to meet the required medical standard and provided the medical certificate has not been endorsed 'Renew by CASA only', the DAME may revalidate an applicant's medical certificate. A DAME may choose to place additional conditions on the certificate during this period, if considered appropriate.

Copies of all revalidated/extended certificates must be sent to CASA as soon as reasonably possible. They may be sent by fax, (scanned copies) by email, or by express post.

Extensions /Revalidations can only be issued as follows (refer CASR 67.220):

• If the applicant's medical certificate has not expired and the assessment is conducted more than 28 days before the expiry date shown on the certificate-for up to two calendar months from the date of the assessment. (But see 'Exception for ATPL recertification' below).
• Example: Medical certificate expires 31 December 2010. Person arrives for medical exam 01 December 2010. Certificate can be extended until 01 February 2011.
• If the applicant's medical certificate has not expired and the assessment is conducted within 28 days preceding the expiry date shown on the certificate - for up to two calendar months beyond the expiry date shown on the certificate.
• Example: Medical certificate expires 31 December 2010. Person arrives for medical exam 14 December 2010. Certificate can be extended until 01 March 2011
• If the applicant's medical certificate has expired, and the assessment is conducted within three calendar months of the expiry date shown on the certificate - for up to two calendar months from the date of the assessment.
• Example: Medical certificate expires 31 December 2010. Person arrives for medical exam 01 March 2011. Certificate can be extended until 01 May 2011.
  

To revalidate the medical certificate, the following endorsement is required:

Examined dd1/mm1/yyyy1
Revalidated to dd2/mm2/yyyy2 (the appropriate date to be inserted is determined according to instructions in the preceding paragraph)
DAME's signature, date, DAME stamp

Note: Any specialist assessments required in connection with a medical certificate renewal examination need not be performed within 28 days preceding the medical certificate's expiry date. They can be performed within 90 days before the date of the medical examination by the DAME.

Exception for ATPL recertification

Some CASA medical standards differ from those required by ICAO. In particular, ATPL holders aged over 40 but under 60 may receive Australian class1 medical certification for 12 months, while ICAO countenances only six months. Because many of this group operate on international routes, CASA advises (and airlines require) that their medical certification is ICAO compliant.

Such applicants will often return for reassessment within the first 6 months of a medical certificate, which is valid for 12 months. In this circumstance, the DAME should endorse the applicant's medical certificate as:

Re-examined dd1/mm1/yyyy1
Revalidated to dd2/mm2/yyyy2 (this will usually be the date 2 months after the assessment date)
signature, date, DAME stamp

Subsequently, in the usual course of events, CASA will issue a new Class 1 medical certificate valid for a further 12 months from the date of assessment. Alternatively, CASA may issue a new medical certificate that has the effect of extending validity for six months longer than the current certificate's expiry date. This situation will persist while ever the medical certificate holder operates as an ATPL in international air space.

Note: There are a number of other differences between CASA and ICAO medical standards. These particularly concern the periods of validity for medical certificates and the frequency of certain routinely required investigations or examinations. Full details likely to be of relevance to Australian examiners will be notified from time to time in DAME Newsletters. For practical purposes, only medical certificate holders who intend to exercise the privileges of licensure in other ICAO contracting states will be affected by these differences.