061/92

[This safety recommendation] is made by TAIC so that such an adviser could look after any medical confidential documents which arise from medical certification. This is an important safeguard which will help ensure that pilots have sufficient confidence in the Association's system that they will entrust documents to it. Coincidentally, the CAA has been looking at other good reasons for appointing a medical adviser. These include the Association taking responsibility for achieving reasonable uniformity of medical standards. At present, doctors turn to the CAA's PMO to discuss doubtful cases, but uniformity would be aided by having a separate medical adviser. There is also a need to avoid unduly rigorous medical forms and procedures (a problem which has been noted in the related area of gliding medical certificates). When working in isolation, the various associations may tend to be unaware of relaxation in the field of CAA Medical Certificates and inertia may result in standards more strict than for a PPL.

It is intended in future that the medical advisers of the various associations will keep in closer touch with the CAA's Principal Medical Officer, in order to share knowledge. The appointment of a medical adviser has therefore been made a requirement of the approval of the Association's operations manual.