Barnes and Civil Aviation Safety Authority

This matter concerned an application by Mr Barnes to review a decision by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to refuse to extend his Class 2 medical certificate. The dispute centred on whether Mr Barnes's safety-relevant medical condition adversely affected the safety of air navigation, and whether he had provided inaccurate or unreliable information to medical practitioners. The decision was made by Egon Fice, Senior Member, of the Tribunal.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was to determine whether CASA's decision to refuse the extension of Mr Barnes's Class 2 medical certificate was the correct one, considering the applicant's medical condition and the information provided by him. A related issue was whether the issuance of a new medical certificate was appropriate while an existing one remained in force.

The Senior Member found that the decision to refuse the extension of the Class 2 medical certificate was correct. While acknowledging that Mr Barnes held a valid medical certificate until December 2017, subject to certain restrictions, the Tribunal affirmed CASA's decision not to extend it. This affirmation was based on the assessment that the applicant's medical condition, and potentially the information provided, warranted the refusal to extend the certificate.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, meaning that CASA's refusal to extend Mr Barnes's Class 2 medical certificate was upheld.