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Q. I don't have an aviation medicine background. Am I qualified to conduct the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate examination?
Yes. To assess a pilot for the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate, you do not require aviation medicine training or a background as a pilot. All you need to do is to assess the applicant against the private unconditional Austroads driver standard and the additional CASA requirements.
Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 aviation medicals must still be conducted by a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME).
Q. Am I obliged to conduct the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate examination?
No, there is no legal or other obligation for you to conduct the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate medical examination.
Q. Am I being asked to approve a person to fly an aircraft?
No. All you need to do is assess the applicant against the private unconditional Austroads driver standard and additional CASA requirements outlined in Form 166 A Guidance for GPs assessing persons for a RAMPC. CASA has determined that a person who meets this standard and who is the holder of a CASA issued flight crew licence will be permitted to act as the pilot in command of an aircraft (with conditions and limitations).
Q. How much should I charge for a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate consultation?
This is not a matter for CASA, however if the pilot presents with a suitably completed questionnaire form and you have a knowledge of the patient's medical history, the assessment should be completed within the time of an extended consultation.
Q. Is there a minimum or maximum age limit for the issue of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate? What do I do if the applicant is too young for a driver licence?
There is no minimum or maximum age for the issue of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate. Pilots of gliders and small ‘ultralight' aircraft can fly solo at the age of 15 and may commence their flight training before that age. Pilots of light aircraft (Cessnas etc) can fly solo at the age of 15. There is no upper age limit as long as the pilot can meet the required medical standard. The certificate is issued for two years for pilots up to the age of 65 years, and for one year for pilots over 65.
Q. I am not familiar with the pilot's medical history, does this have any impact?
The Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate can be issued to any person meeting the required standard, however CASA recognises the value of the doctor/patient relationship. Pilots with a history of heart failure or basal skin cell cancer can only be assessed for a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate by their treating GP (or a colleague with access to the patient's medical history) and must be under case management.
Q. Must I use the Austroads unconditional private driver licence standard with CASA's modifications to form an opinion on whether the pilot meets the fitness standard?
Yes. The CASA modifications arise because of the inherent differences in risk between driving a private motor vehicle and flying light aircraft. As a result, a person's compliance with the Austroads standards for an unconditional driver licence for a private motor vehicle, will not be sufficient to qualify for a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate unless they also comply with the higher CASA modifications of those standards.
There are certain medical conditions for which more stringent requirements apply for the purposes of operating as pilot in command of an aircraft and, therefore, the CASA modifications must override the lower Austroads standards.
For more information, please read the recreational pilot medical disqualifying conditions.
Q. I do not have the Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive publication. Where can I find it?
The Assessing Fitness to Drive publication is available from the Austroads website.
Q. What forms do I need to complete and sign and how do I know if the pilot has provided me with all of the relevant information from the CASA website?
The pilot will bring CASA's entire medical pack to your surgery, which includes the following four documents:
The patient should complete the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate questionnaire (Form 166A) in advance, but may arrive with some answers blank to discuss a medical condition with you and complete the form during the consultation. You will complete and sign the Medical Practitioner Clinical Examination Proforma (Form 166B) and if the pilot meets the required standard you will complete and sign the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate (Form 166C).
Q. What happens if I don't have the CASA forms?
The Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate is only valid if the CASA forms are used (Forms 166A, 166B and 166C). If the pilot forgets to bring the ‘medical pack', it must be downloaded and printed from the CASA website. Alternatively, the pilot could be asked to reschedule the appointment and bring the required documentation.
Q. I have completed the clinical examination of the pilot, what do I do with the forms?
If you have assessed the pilot as meeting the required standard, give the three completed forms (The Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate questionnaire form 166A, the signed Medical Practitioner Clinical Examination Proforma form 166B, and the signed Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate form 166C to the pilot, who must submit these three forms to CASA.
Retain copies of the three forms for your records. There is no requirement for you to submit anything to CASA.
If the medical standard is not met, do not return any completed or signed forms to the pilot and do not issue a ‘conditional' medical certificate.
Q. The pilot wears glasses or has a hearing aid. Can I still issue a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate ?
Yes, as long as the corrected vision and/or hearing meets the required standard. It must be noted using the appropriate check box on the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate (Form 166C) that the pilot requires vision correction to exercise the privilege of their licence.
Q. The pilot is pregnant. Can I issue a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate ?
Yes. It is the pilot's responsibility to stop flying when the safety of flight could be compromised, and the pilot's licence is taken to be suspended from the end of the 30th week of gestation until after delivery.
Q. Can I issue a ‘conditional' Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate , as I would issue a conditional medical for a motor vehicle driver?
No, unless the only condition is that they need to wear refractive lenses (glasses/contact lenses). Apart from vision correction, if the pilot does not meet the required standard they are not eligible for a ‘conditional' Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate , although they can visit a specialist Designated Aviation Medical Examiner to be assessed for a Class 2 aviation medical, possibly with conditions.
Q. What if the pilot does not meet the Austroads/CASA standard?
If the pilot does not meet the Austroads/CASA standard for the issue of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate, no certificate is to be issued and no signed forms are to be returned to the pilot. Other than the requirement to wear corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) there is no ‘conditional' standard for this type of medical. You can suggest to the pilot that they can still visit a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME) to be assessed for a Class 2 aviation medical, which can be issued with conditions.
Q. I require further guidance about a specific medical condition. Who can I contact?
If you need guidance on a specific medical condition, contact CASA's Aviation Medicine team (AVMED) by phone on 1300 737 032 (direct) or 131 757 and ask for Aviation Medicine. Although every attempt will be made to field your enquiry, CASA employs a limited number of doctors and you may not be able to establish contact immediately.
Q. I suspect the pilot may not be disclosing their full medical history. What should I do?
You can advise the pilot that the medical certificate is not valid if they have a disqualifying condition and it is their responsibility to disclose their medical history. Do not issue the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate .
If you believe that your advice may be ignored and there is a risk to aviation safety, advise CASA's AVMED team on 1300 737 032 (direct), 131 757 and ask for Aviation Medicine, or by email to rec.medical@casa.gov.au.
Q. How long is the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate valid? Can I determine the period it can be issued for?
CASA has determined fixed periods for the issue of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate. This is based on the applicant's age.
For pilots aged 65 years and older, the certificate is valid for no more than one year from the date of your assessment. You must write this date on the certificate. Even if the pilot is very fit, you cannot choose to extend the validity of the certificate beyond the one year period for pilots aged 65 years and over.
For pilots aged under 65 years the certificate is valid for no more than two years from the date of the assessment. For pilots up to the age of 65, the certificate would normally be valid for two years from the date of the assessment. However you may choose to issue the certificate for one year only if you believe the pilot requires more frequent assessments.
Q. A patient with a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate no longer meets the standard, either temporarily or permanently. What must I do?
If the pilot has a temporary unfitness such as a sprained or broken limb, advise the pilot not to fly until you have assessed them as meeting the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate standard. There is no need to advise CASA, and no need to re-issue a new Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate when the pilot has regained fitness.
If the pilot has a long term unfitness, advise them that they no longer meet the required standard, they should not fly, and they should advise CASA that they are no longer using their Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate. A new Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate can be issued when the pilot is able to meet the required standard.
If you believe your advice to cease flying is being ignored, you should advise the CASA AVMED team on 1300 737 032 (direct), 131 757 and ask for Aviation Medicine, or by email to rec.medical@casa.gov.au.
Q. A patient has recovered from a medical unfitness and now meets the required medical standard. Can I re-issue a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate ?
Yes. The process is the same as the initial issue. The pilot should present with the medical pack, you conduct the assessment and issue a certificate if they meet the required standard.
Q. CASA has contacted me requesting further information about the issue of a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate. Do I need to disclose this information?
Yes. It is a condition of the legal framework that underpins this process that the pilot must sign their Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate to allow CASA to contact the medical practitioner for further information relevant to the medical assessment prior to submitting the Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner's Certificate.