AOPA Australia and the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA) have renewed their drive for driver's licence medicals for pilots flying VH-registered aircraft.
In separate but identical letters addressed to both CASA and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack dated yesterday, the associations cited CASA's decision to allow Recreational Aviation Australia to administer aircraft up to 760 kg MTOW as justification for applying similar privileges to pilots flying CASA-registered aircraft in the same category.
"We are ... encouraged that CASA is reviewing an MTOW increase of 601-760 kg for Recreational Pilots Certificate holders signalling that the Regulator's decision in December 2017 to reject self-certification for general aviation RPL and PPL holders was premature," the SAAA letter signed by President Tony White says.
"Understanding that CASA’s role is to develop aviation safety standards for the whole of our industry, we applaud CASA in making this decision and now look forward to its implementation for RPL and PPL holders who fly private category VH registered aircraft with an MTOW of up to 600 kg and onwards to 601-760 kg once CASA approves.
"CASA must agree that it would be entirely inappropriate for it to discriminate between an RAAus RPC holder or CASA RPL/PPL holder, given that you have stated ‘no reduction in the existing safety standards’ exits."
In July 2016, the SAAA made attempts to have CASA extend the driver's licence medical system to SAAA members who also flew two-seat aircraft with an MTOW below 601 kg. Medical reforms instituted by CASA in November 2017 did not include this provision.