The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) yesterday announced the schedule to implement reforms for Class 2 and Basic Class 2 medical standards.
CASA released the proposed reforms in November last year, saying they would be put in place across 2018.
As well as introducing the Basic Class 2 and allowing commerical pilots to fly operations without fare-paying passengers on a Class 2 medical certificate, CASA has said Designated Aviation Medical Examiners (DAME) will now be able to issue Class 2 medicals at the time of examination without reference to CASA.
The roll-out schedule is:
- 1 March 2018 – Class 2 medicals for commercial flights without fare-paying passengers
- 3 April 2018 – DAMEs can start issuing Class 2 medical certificates
- Mid 2018 – Basic Class 2 starts
CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody said the CPL reform has the potential to keep experienced pilots active for longer in some areas of commercial aviation.
“The change opens up the potential pool of pilots for a range of operations, including aerial application and flying training,” he said.
“Giving more experienced pilots who no longer hold a Class 1 medical the opportunity to offer their services and skills to flying training is a reform that can be a plus for both current and future pilots."
Several CASA CEOs in the past have tried to enable DAMEs to issue Class 2 medicals without reference to CASA, but none have been able to implement it right across the board. Some DAMEs, known as DAME2s, have been issuing Class 2 medicals for some time already.
"This change will allow all designated aviation medical examiners to issue Class 2 medicals at the time of examination, unless the DAME elects to refer the application to CASA," a CASA spokesperson said.
"Allowing DAMEs to directly issue Class 2 medicals should simplify and speed up the medical process for hundreds of applicants each month."
The 3 April reforms also bring into focus the $75 CASA processing fee, which the regulator has told Australian Flying is currently "under consideration".