Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:17 pm
#1839352
The PMD is perfect for those of us that have medicals of a higher standard for work purposes and that fly only Permit to Fly machines
nickwilcock wrote:The PMD has now drifted so far from its originally intended purpose that safety issues perhaps need to be discussed.
nickwilcock wrote:
The PMD has now drifted so far from its originally intended purpose that safety issues perhaps need to be discussed.
gaznav wrote:@Flyin'Dutch'
I agree, but I believe that the “risk based” approach has already been used to assure the roll out of PMDs?
I tend to look at it this way with risk in mind. The normal UK driving medical standards allow me to drive a vevicle up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg). Should I have a medical episode, then I am far more likely to cause death and serious injury to a 3rd Party than a light aircraft operating to a similar declared medical standard. That is due to the fact that most roads concentrate 3rd party individuals either on that road, or very adjacent to it, so the likelihood of causing 3rd party injury is higher due to the concentration of the driving activity.
However, I fear that you are right, that the first medical episode that causes a PMD Pilot to have an accident will immediately cause a disproportionate response. Why do I say disproportionate? I can look back a lots of accidents where Pilots with Class 1 and Class 2 medicals that have had medical episodes that have caused fatalities. I lost a friend in the last couple of years who had an undetected heart condition that likely led to their death and their student. There is also, always the spectre of someone with a Class 1, Class 2 or LAPL medical going flying with a known medical issue that has developed after the last medical examination anyway?
So, I agree with you, that this should be revisited, but also kept in perspective as it was originally under Tony Rapson’s tenure (this was probably the best thing he did for GA). But I do think there are some tweaks to be made (see later my suggestion of a printable PMD certificate), with a formal statement of the risk based analysis.
If I take my own example. I don’t fly Part-21 (ex EASA) aircraft, I don’t need to fly to IR privileges and I don’t fly GA outside the UK. My job gives me a medical check frequently (the last one in June last year) and I have to conduct an annual fitness test (shuttle runs, sit ups and press ups) to achieve a VO2 max of greater than 38. I have no medical history of interest and no hereditary illnesses of interest. So from a risk based perspective I am 100% content to sign a declaration that I believe that I am fit to fly a civil GA aircraft. Other than the off chance of a civvy AME finding an issue with me, because it would increase the frequency of personal medical examination over that of the Class 1, what else would it bring? Apart from seeing me part with the best part of £200 for the privilege!
So, I believe that the PMD is a good thing. I believe that the only improvement would be to produce some sort of certificate of declared conformity, as it is a little un-nerving to not have any demonstrable evidence to show that you have made the PMD - I carry a screenshot of my application, but it looks a bit pants.
Best, Gaz
I carry a screenshot of my application, but it looks a bit pants.
MattL wrote:[not intended to be provocative honestly!] but asking AMEs to promote/recommend the PMD regime would be like asking FEs to recommend a self assessment flight test system. Any review should include a cross section of subject matter experts to remove any unconscious bias.
MattL wrote:@Flyin'Dutch' I specifically said I wasn’t being provocative.
My point is that I hope any review is done holistically with the full range of industry views and analysis taken into account. This can build on the amazing work and data set done in the U.K. on PMDs to date. I would be amazed if a group of clinicians was not in any little way subconsciously biased to preferring clinical checks and tests for medical certification rather than self declaration. I’ve frequently read on here that it has been the AME lobby across Europe that has blocked EASA relaxation of private pilot medical standards or is that not correct?
MattL wrote:What’s your view on the PMD out of interest?