Flying aircraft as specified

Lumbar spondylosis - Flying aircraft as specified Factor

The requirements in the Statement of Principles regarding flying powered aircraft for  Lumbar Spondylosis and Intervertebral Disc Prolapse now have three different requirements.

For reasonable hypothesis cases the requirement is:

• Flying in a powered aircraft as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset or clinical worsening.

For balance of probability cases the requirements are:

• Flying a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset or clinical worsening.

or

• Flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset or clinical worsening.

Operational aircrew now includes all other operational aircrew in addition to pilots and co-pilots, but still excludes persons who were passengers only.

The intention of the wording of the factors that do not specify operational aircrew is that they only apply to persons who are flying a powered aircraft.  The evidence about the connection with lumbar spondylosis and intervertebral disc prolapse is that this only relates to pilots and co-pilots.

Where the aircraft is specified as a helicopter the whole period of flying time must be related to only flying helicopters.   If the person has flown a combination of powered aircraft then the factor relating to powered aircraft applies, and the person must have been a pilot or co-pilot.

Although the RMA has not defined "powered aircraft" the term excludes any non-motorised aircraft such as gliders, hang-gliders and similar devices.

Information about the scope and nature of various service occupations is also contained in Physical requirements, duties, and workplace hazards of specific military occupations.

Physical requirements, duties, and workplace hazards of specific military occupations

Commonwealth OH & S legislation applies to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the relevant manual is issued by the appropriate Directorate. Additionally, a series of Defence Instructions are frequently published in relation to specific safety topics. Many large plant and heavy equipment have safety instructions and appropriate warnings, advising of safety requirements, eg ‘this is a two-man lift’, ‘ear muffs required’, ‘protective clothing and face masks required’.

The Chief of the Defence Force has some discretionary powers for operational situations, but it would be expected that OH&S procedures would generally be complied with.

The following examples of military occupations have been so classified on the basis of the likelihood of a greater or lesser degree of exposure to particular personal risk. However, the listing of a military occupation within a particular risk category does not imply that a specified level of exposure is met; and nor does the absence of a military occupation within a particular risk category imply that such an occupation would not have been exposed to such risk. Each case should be considered on its merits and the specific requirements of SOP factors must be met.

While some of the occupations are service-specific, many others involve similar duties and associated hazards that are comparable across the different services. Some occupations (entries) appear in all categories of hazards. The descriptions – some more comprehensive than others due to the disparate nature of the defence service sources – relate to usual activities, however, extraordinary circumstances may result in different hazard exposures. Army employment category numbers (ECNs) and/or service-specific occupational codes have been included where known.

The Decision Support Unit (DSU) holds several ADF publications outlining aspects of current service occupations. Queries about specific occupational duties not contained in the following hotwords may be directed to DSU for research and/or clarification.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [40327]

40325 there is some evidence that flying aircraft as specified may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

40326  the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

40328   the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40330  the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

40331  the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

40329   the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

40332  the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

40333  the veteran has established the causal connection between flying aircraft as specified and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [40330]

41541 the veteran was flying in a powered aircraft as part of the operational aircrew.

40334 the veteran has flown in a powered aircraft as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41540 the veteran flew in a powered aircraft as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41542 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a powered aircraft as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and eligible service [40331]

41543 the powered aircraft the veteran flew were helicopters only.

41544 the veteran has flown in a helicopter as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41545 the veteran flew in a helicopter as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41546 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a helicopter as operation aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

41547 the veteran was a pilot or co-pilot.

41548 the veteran has flown in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41549 the veteran flew in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41550 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and operational service [40332]

41541 the veteran was flying in a powered aircraft as part of the operational aircrew.

40334 the veteran has flown in a powered aircraft as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41551 the veteran flew in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.

41552 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 2500 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [40333]

41543 the powered aircraft the veteran flew were helicopters only.

41544 the veteran has flown in a helicopter as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41553 the veteran flew in a helicopter as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.

41554 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.

or

41547 the veteran was a pilot or co-pilot.

41548 the veteran has flown in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours within a ten year period at some time.

41555 the veteran flew in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.

41556 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran flying in a powered aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 5000 hours after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the ten years before its clinical worsening.