Program In Place To, "Reduce The Immediate And Longer-Term Regulatory Demand On Healthcare Resources"

Our friends at the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association tipped us off to some interesting news from North of the Border...

COPA notes that, "Recognizing that many Civil Aviation Medical Examiners (CAMEs) are not seeing patients or those seeking medical certificates in their offices or clinics on a face-to-face basis due to the ongoing pandemic, Transport Canada has announced temporary provisions for the renewal of medical certificates permitting the use of virtual visits instead."

Government documents note that the program has resulted from the need, "... to adopt measures in the public interest to reduce the immediate and longer-term regulatory demand on healthcare resources in Canada following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 and reduce the unnecessary exposure of healthy medical certificate holders to potentially hazardous healthcare settings. More specifically, this exemption will allow holders of medical certificates Category 1, 2, or 3 with a validity period ending between March 17, 2020 and March 31, 2021 to renew their certificate by attestation of fitness or via telemedicine consultation, subject to the conditions set out below."

There are a number of limits. For instance, if this is your first application for a medical certificate, you're out of luck. And if the CAME isn't sure about your qualifications for issuance, he or she can still mandate the usual in-person medical examination. And, if you break the rules in force under this program, you're out of luck again.

Also exempt from the new measures are applicants whose medical condition has changed, those whose current medical certificate has any of the following limitations or restrictions:

• Licence restricted;
• Permit restricted;
• 3 months only;
• 6 months only;
• 9 months only;
• 12 months only;
• 24 months only;
• Subject to letter dated;
• Private Pilot Licence (PPL) privileges – 12 months only;
• Valid only when another air traffic controller available and competent to assume your duties;
• With an accompanying pilot;
• Not valid for Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) renewal.

The new programs are only allowed through (either) March 31, 2021 or when the Minister of Transport cancels it -- whichever comes first.

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/regserv/Affairs/exemptions/docs/en/3304.htm