Blind, disabled 'should be able to fly'

Daily Telegraph ^ | September 27, 2002 | MATTHEW DENHOLM

[Squawk 8888]

THE physically and mentally disabled may no longer be barred from becoming pilots or air traffic controllers.

Eyesight and other medical tests imposed on flight crew have been found to be in breach of anti-discrimination laws.

The finding, by the Federal Attorney General's Department has created fears air safety regulators will be hit with discrimination complaints.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority lawyers have made an urgent application to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for an exemption from federal Sex and Disability Discrimination Acts.

Under CASA rules, pilots, flight navigators, flight engineers and air traffic controllers must past strict eyesight and hearing tests.

They are also refused licences if they have heart, respiratory, immune system and blood pressure conditions which could affect safety.

In some cases, pregnant women or those with severe menstrual problems can also be barred.

CASA is confident the commission will back its call for an exemption to allow the medical standards to continue.

But its application ? subject to a commission inquiry ? is complicated by union fears about a wider agenda.

CASA plans to subject cabin crew to medical tests similar to those applied to pilots.

The Flight Attendant's Association fears the tests could be used to exclude crew who are overweight, short or suffer from minor complaints such as asthma.

"We don't want a one-size fits all medical approach," association official Guy Mclean said. The union has sought talks with the commission to discuss CASA's bid for an exemption to the discrimination Acts.

And it wants CASA to clarify its plans.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson warned any delay to the granting of an exemption could leave the way open to discrimination complaints.

"Clearly it's in our interests for the commission to make a determination as soon as it possibly can," he said.

"Without [enforceable medical standards] you would not be able to guarantee the safety of flights because you couldn't guarantee that pilots were safe to carry out their jobs."

[lizma]

In Maryland the "legally blind" can drive.

Don't we all know that to the left, dead people take a back seat to "oppressed" people. (Except in November, when they all get an equal vote.)

[Consort]

Braille radar screens and prescription cockpit windows....

[July 4th]

In Wisconsin, we allow the blind to hunt deer. (with an aimer, of course...)

[SBeck]

Geez, let's keep 7700 in the box all the time if this comes to fruition.

[BlackVeil]

"the Aussie version of the FAA ... " Magical, have you noticed how in Australian job advertisments, for public service positions (such as Chief Engineer overseeing safety in public works) they always say that candidates should apply "regardless of physical or mental impairment." It looks like the English are outdoing even us.

Narses, were you (like me) taught those old fashioned Catechism lessons, where they say that before going on a long journey you should go to confession, and remember to put on your scapular? How right they were!

[Bogolyubski]

And we wonder why Aussies are usually the winners of the Darwin awards??? Please tell me this is a joke!!

[bootless]

Geez, let's keep 7700 in the box all the time if this comes to fruition.

You read my mind.

Maybe the Feds should start thinking about a new code for various special crews:

"-00-" << for the blind pilots (a pair of glasses)

"0000" << FrootLoops for the legally insane pilots ... and they'd have to be...

[giznort]

In Wisconsin, we also vote the blind, deaf, and dumb into office: See: Feingold, Russell, and Kohl, Herbert

[Nick Danger]

Welcome aboard !

[Conservababe]

If ATM facilities have to provide braille for the blind users...why not allow the blind to pilot an airplane?

[Ronin]

I used to joke about this, but somewhere deep inside, I knew it was only a matter of time.

Next up, expect the Catholic Church to face lawsuits for not allowing atheists to become priests.

[Post Toasties]

Hey. Even a blind man can find some way to land a plane. Just maybe not where or how he intends to.

[RLK]

This is a hoax, right?

[bootless]

I thought for sure The Onion was the source.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I'm not flying to England any time soon!

Umm...you don't have to worry about that.

It's Australia.

[Black Agnes]

OOP, my bad. Silly commonwealth loonies. (Is that better?)

[BulletBrasDotNet]

These fools just followed the banks who put braille buttons ons the outdorr ATM machines. They figure if you can drive blind, get some cash; then you should be able to get to the airport, park your car and pilot an airliner. Hmmmm?

[The Other Harry]

Hey. Even a blind man can find some way to land a plane. Just maybe not where or how he intends to.

Well, just so long as you walk away from it, it supposedly qualifies as a good landing.

[rmlew]

Egalitarianism is a mortal threat.

[snopercod]

Blind doctors are next.