MEDICAL STANDARDS for non-RPT/Charter (Editorial Perspective - Nicholas Christie)

"With little-to-no data correlating the (rather embarrassingly elaborate and expensive) CASA AV-Med regime in Australia to safety-critical medical events in the air, regulators around the world are also struggling to defend their stringent medical standards in PVT ops, in aviation across our industry. CASA will need to move on this or face increased pressure, backlash and disdain from within. Perhaps even from opposition leader, Sussan Ley who is an avid pilot? We hope that change happens very soon.

Of course CASA and their DAME's will argue that medical checks can reveal or prevent health issues early. True. It has done, and I know people who owe their life to a DAME medical. But, there is NO CONVINCING DATA linking medicals to aviation SAFETY in recreational or private aviation. This is the critical point. The local GP, getting scans, eating healthily, exercising and being vigilant with your health certainly helps. Leave health choices and the choice to fly, to the individual - not to the Government! Under current logic, we should also regulate medicals for private vehicles on our roads travelling within 5 metres of one another at closing speeds of up to 220kph?"

It simply makes no sense.