$55 charge, for processing medical?!

[SoaringHigh]

I had my medical renewed about four months ago and never got a sticker.

I didn't get my $55 sticker, either....

[HiFlyChick]

First off, you don't get stickers any more - if you're so upset about it, go to Dollarama - they're much nicer and only cost a buck

Secondly, the fee is for processing the medical - given how much everything else in aviation costs, I don't get why everyone here gets their knickers in a twist about this stupid $55 fee. And I tend to think it was earlier than the 90s that it came into play, because I've been flying for longer than that and don't ever recall a time when I didn't pay this fee. With regards to all the complaints about the medical fee and no longer getting an AIP, your piece of paper still gets tracked in Ottawa, your CAME gets monitored, the RAMO's salary has to be paid, the tribunal or whatever they're called that you can appeal medical decisions to get compensated somehow, you can call and get free advice, or appeal decisions, etc, and yes, you will occasionally get a sticker if any conditions change. Maybe some will argue that your taxes pay for this, but should they? Not everyone flies, why should the general public's taxes pay for us to fly?

It's not like we're not paying through the nose for everything else in this industry, and I don't think the fee amount has changed in decades....

[Oldguystrtn2fly]

So, pay because you have always paid and aviation is expensive. Good idea...

Again, I don’t want a sticker, I don’t need one so it’s not that, I also don’t care about an aip.

Answer me this, when they process the medical, why do I need them to do that?

[photofly]

Look, if you don't want to pay, don't pay. It's an argument between you and the government; nobody here cares one way or the other.

[Oldguystrtn2fly]

Look, if you don’t want to contribute positively to the thread, don’t contribute, no one cares one way or the other.

[digits_]

Not everyone flies, why should the general public's taxes pay for us to fly?

Actually, the majority of the rules are in place to protect the non-pilot group of citizens from the pilots. That's the reason we need licenses and duty times etc, so not every idiot can go fly and crash into a city, or fall asleep behind the yoke and kill 200 people on board.

I'd find it logical if the "government" would pay for that "themselves" (yes, it's our money, taxes etc) instead of just the small pilot group. After all, the pilots don't need the majority of the rules, the general public does. Or at least that is what the politicians want us to believe.

[Oldguystrtn2fly]

Before this ges any worse, I get fees for things. I need a license plate, I pay a fee, I need a yearly registration I pay a fee, I want a passport I pay the fee. But this one, makes no sense. You are legal with the stamp im the booklet, the fee gets you nothing. I expect that back when the doc filled out a carbon copy and sent it by snail mail in triplicate, someone input the info somewhere and perhaps that was processed, and perhaps that warranted a fee, but I am sure that today the doctor submits the info in some electronic manner and there is no one processing jack. Hence the question, what is the fee paying for really?

[photofly]

As far as I know, CAMEs still submit medical information to transport by post.

But other than that, you’re correct. It makes no sense. The fee is paying for nothing at all. Don’t pay it.

[C.W.E.]

Don't pay it works until you are in a position to get a tax rebate, then they take it off your rebate.

[photofly]

I was just trying to point out that there’s no point asking people on this forum to explain why there’s a fee, and when they tell you why there’s a fee, arguing back and saying why they’re wrong, and why there shouldn’t be a fee. Nobody here cares whether anyone else pays the fee or not. Nobody here is passionately invested in trying to justify the fee to anyone else. If you don’t like the fee, don’t pay, and accept the consequences. It’s your life.

[switchflicker]

Re: $55 charge, for processing medical?!
by photofly » Fri Oct 26, 2018 8:04 pm

As far as I know, CAMEs still submit medical information to transport by post.
________________
And the TC employed Doctor in the region reviews each of the reports submitted by the CAME.
He or she has the last say as to whether the applicant is fit of not.
In the case of high blood sugar for example the TC employed Doctor will present the process to follow for a fit assessment.

[5x5]

I was just trying to point out that there’s no point asking people on this forum to explain why there’s a fee, and when they tell you why there’s a fee, arguing back and saying why they’re wrong, and why there shouldn’t be a fee. Nobody here cares whether anyone else pays the fee or not. Nobody here is passionately invested in trying to justify the fee to anyone else. If you don’t like the fee, don’t pay, and accept the consequences. It’s your life.

[5x5]

For anyone who is really twisted about this fee, why not go to this link -https://letstalktransportation.ca/fee-modernization - and provide your comments directly to Transport? It may have no more effect than ranting on an internet forum (which is zero, BTW) but at least there's a chance.

[Oldguystrtn2fly]

Re: $55 charge, for processing medical?!
by photofly » Fri Oct 26, 2018 8:04 pm

As far as I know, CAMEs still submit medical information to transport by post.
________________
And the TC employed Doctor in the region reviews each of the reports submitted by the CAME.
He or she has the last say as to whether the applicant is fit of not.
In the case of high blood sugar for example the TC employed Doctor will present the process to follow for a fit assessment.

This is the first reasonable answer to my question, I did not know that the doctors decision is reviewed by a TC doctor. I guess there is a point in asking a question here. Even if photofly doesn’t like it. Perhaps all the people throwing out guesses previously have learnt something also. Or not.

[Oldguystrtn2fly]

For anyone who is really twisted about this fee, why not go to this link -https://letstalktransportation.ca/fee-modernization - and provide your comments directly to Transport? It may have no more effect than ranting on an internet forum (which is zero, BTW) but at least there's a chance.

Good link, but all the consultations closed two months ago. But thanks for digging that up. In addition, why does it bother people to question the government? Seriously, I have asked guys at my airport, and heard some of the same made up answers or guesses as here, aip, stickers, although no one said to my face, just pay it cause it’s aviation so I guess that’s a new one, so thanks avcanada. The above makes some actual sense. If I qualify as ranting on the internet that’s fine, but the folks lecturing how it does no good must also qualify.

[Longtimer]

This subject was beat to death several times on this forum in the past …..

[SoaringHigh]

For so many comments above to "just pay the fee", or "no one cares", or "or don't pay the fee, it's your life", most here still seems somewhat invested in knowing the answer to this question. Judging by the full gamete of answers, I'm not sure anyone knows for certain. I know it did NOT sit well with me when I opened that envelope with the invoice enclosed.

I think it's always a good idea to challenge the administration of governance, to identify value where they may be some, or to identify a money grab when that's what it is. I sadly think it's the latter... also, if we, as the collective public, were to just accept fee, after fee, after fee, after tax, after administration fee, can you not see where this is going? It is simply unacceptable at a certain point. WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE SERVICE FROM THE DOC, (handsomely, might I add, for a second time).

I'm willing to bet the pool of $55 payments, when collected from the thousands of pilots whom get their medicals processed each year, amounts to a pretty revenue stream for Transport. One which many budgets have been budgeted upon, and one which they are not willing to part ways with unless something drastic changes. Like, a refusal to pay from the pilot pool. But Is that ever going to happen? Of course not.

So.... there goes my $55 dollars, year-after-year. Over a 30 year career? $1650, assuming there is no pricing adjustment due to inflation, or an NDP federal gov't.

I'd rather save that money, thank you very much. after all, aviation has been expensive... right?

(Most) people must see the inherent problem here.

[mmm..bacon]

For so many comments above to "just pay the fee", or "no one cares", or "or don't pay the fee, it's your life", most here still seems somewhat invested in knowing the answer to this question. Judging by the full gamete of answers, I'm not sure anyone knows for certain. I know it did NOT sit well with me when I opened that envelope with the invoice enclosed.

I think it's always a good idea to challenge the administration of governance, to identify value where they may be some, or to identify a money grab when that's what it is. I sadly think it's the latter... also, if we, as the collective public, were to just accept fee, after fee, after fee, after tax, after administration fee, can you not see where this is going? It is simply unacceptable at a certain point. WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE SERVICE FROM THE DOC, (handsomely, might I add, for a second time).

I'm willing to bet the pool of $55 payments, when collected from the thousands of pilots whom get their medicals processed each year, amounts to a pretty revenue stream for Transport. One which many budgets have been budgeted upon, and one which they are not willing to part ways with unless something drastic changes. Like, a refusal to pay from the pilot pool. But Is that ever going to happen? Of course not.

So.... there goes my $55 dollars, year-after-year. Over a 30 year career? $1650, assuming there is no pricing adjustment due to inflation, or an NDP federal gov't.

I'd rather save that money, thank you very much. after all, aviation has been expensive... right?

(Most) people must see the inherent problem here.

What problem? A government department, tasked with regulating the safe operation of the aviation system in Canada, extracts some of its operating costs from its user group so as to not download that onto the general tax base? Compared to all of the other costs of aviation, $55 is a bargain...

[C.W.E.]

It is very un-Canadian to question your government fleecing you.

[av8ts]

I’m a socialist so I’m sure the money will be spent for the betterment of the whole community