The Virgin Independent Pilots Association (VIPA) says new rules relating to colour vision deficiency (CVD) discriminates against pilots already working in Australia’s major airlines, but will fail to deliver any better safety outcomes.
VIPA says a review of the Civil Authority Safety Regulation Part 67 by the CASA states that Class 1 pilots with CVD will have to inform their employers about their CVD, and that pilots may be forced to undergo a colour assessment and diagnostic test (CAD) in the future.
“Whilst VIPA always recognises that aviation safety remains paramount, we condemn CASA’s new procedures relating to CVD pilots,” VIPA executive director, Simon O’Hara said. “The fact is, there are hundreds of commercial pilots with CVD who have passed check and line training requirements and subsequently have thousands of hours flying without incident, who will be impacted by these restrictive practices.”
VIPA says it supports an appeal lodged in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by a CVD pilot against a refusal by CASA to permit him to become a captain.
