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5.5 Assessments other than "Issue" Assessments

Only CASA's PMO has the delegated power to cancel an applicant's medical certificate(s). Only CASA's PMO and other CASA medical staff have the delegated power to suspend an applicant's medical certificate(s).

A DAME may only revalidate the medical certificate of an applicant who appears to meet the required medical standard and where the medical certificate does not bear the endorsement 'Renew by CASA only'. If a DAME has any concerns about an applicant meeting the required medical standard, he/she must decline to revalidate the medical certificate and refer the matter to CASA for determination. Relevant specialist opinions and/or investigations should be obtained and the results forwarded to CASA, together with the DAME's opinion concerning the applicant's fitness for certification.

To assist CASA's consideration of applicants where there is doubt about ability to meet the required medical standard, DAMEs should avoid vague descriptive terms in their reports. Expressions such as 'brief', 'infrequent', 'mild', 'some' or similar convey no meaningful information. CASA recommends the "8W mnemonic".

1. What 1: What happened? (Detail signs and symptoms that led to the consultation, procedure performed etc).
2. What 2: What were the sequelae?
3. When 1: What were the dates and frequency?
4. Where: What body part was affected? (Left or right, upper arm/forearm etc).
5. Why: Why was a procedure performed?
6. Who: Who was involved? (Who carried out a procedure/made an assessment/is undertaking follow-up, etc).
7. What 3: What is the prognosis?
8. When 2: When and at what frequency is follow-up planned?

Where specialist opinions are requested, these questions should be asked in the referral letter.

Once all necessary information has been received, full details of the case are considered, and where required may be considered by a Complex Case Management (CCM) panel composed of CASA's aviation medicine practitioners. When appropriate, this panel may be supplemented by clinical or other specialists, or additional advice and reviews may be required by this panel. A determination on the case will then be made and the applicant notified of the result.

If an applicant is dissatisfied with CASA's determination, reconsideration of the decision may be requested (there is a cost of $150, and this can take 6-12 weeks) or the matter may be appealed to the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

CASA recommends that applicants be advised to apply for reconsideration before appealing to the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal