Colour vision deficiency testing process for pilots - (CD 2404FS)

Overview

Medical certification for pilots with colour vision deficiency requires an assessment against the medical standards in Part 67 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) using a series of tests.

A final determination as to whether a pilot meets the medical standard includes the opportunity to be assessed using an operational assessment. The process for this assessment requires a standardised approach to ensure the assessments are valid and reliable for a safe decision to be made.

We are inviting feedback on a proposal that seeks to formalise 2 testing options for colour vision deficient pilots who are not able to pass initial assessments of colour vision for their aviation medical certificate application.

Pilots will be able to choose either of the tests, depending on their individual circumstances and preferences.

The proposed tests are:

• Australian Operational Colour Vision Assessment (AOCVA)
• Colour Assessment and Diagnostic (CAD) test.

The option to use these tests recognises that many pilots with a colour vision deficiency can demonstrate they are able to operate safely without any medical or operational restrictions.

A pass in either of these proposed tests would satisfy the requirements of a Class 1 or Class 2 medical standard relating to colour vision and allow a medical certificate to be issued without any colour vision related restriction or endorsement.

Our aim is to confirm testing options for pilots by the end of April 2024 and for these to be formally prescribed in a legislative instrument.

An advance copy of the instrument is now available for review.

The instrument will provide certainty for medical examiners, flight examiners and CASA to support pilots with colour vision deficiency to understand and follow the processes for aviation medical certification.

We wish to thank the Aviation Medicine Colour Vision Technical Working Group (TWG), appointed by the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel, for their ongoing input and contribution to the development of a workable and fair draft policy proposal that improves outcomes for colour vision affected pilots.

Opportunity to comment

Your feedback will help us make sure the proposed requirements are suitable, the final instrument is clear and it will work as intended.

Please submit your comments using the survey link on this page.

If you are unable to provide feedback via the survey link, please email regulatoryconsultation@casa.gov.au for advice.

Documents for review

All documents related to this consultation are attached in the ‘Related’ section at the bottom of the overview page. They are:

• Draft instrument - CASA xx/24 — Colour Vision Assessment Determination 2024
• Schedules 1 and 2 - Colour Vision Assessment

What happens next

At the end of the response period, we will:

• review all comments received
• make responses publicly available on the consultation hub (unless you request your submission remain confidential)
• provide an update through the Consultation Hub on any intended changes and next steps.

All comments received on the proposed instrument will be considered. Relevant feedback that improves upon the proposed instrument will be incorporated into the final instrument.

Material will be made available to support the implementation of the proposal including:

• information and training material for flight examiners on how to assess the AOCVA
• a new Clinical Practice Guideline explaining the assessment process to support medical practitioners
• an update to the Flight Examiner Handbook to align with the policy.