Sorry - a fairly long update of what's been happening in the last 2 months -
Well it looks like NZ'rs made the right decision not to go to Vanuatu - a great saving of 423 Kg of CO2 per person - Well Done NZ.
The three New Zealanders who went say that it was a great conference, the 100 Aussies loved it & there seems to have been a lot of bonhomie. Quite a bit of the conference was taken up by the interactive QAPCD sessions required by the RACGP. The John Lane Speaker, Dr Bill Griggs from Adelaide, spoke on trauma and medical evacuation. The Patterson Speaker Dr Petra Illig, from Alaska, spoke on the developments by private companies to get tourists into space.
Much the same to report for the ICASM meeting in Zagreb - attended by Dougal, Claude & Bill Daniels - a taxpayer supported trip for 2 CAA ME's yet no-one is letting on what happened there. For that matter, why is it that CAAMU don't update ME's on developments from all these conferences they attend ? Do ME's still get Medical newsletters ? Last one I can find is February 2009.
In my opinion scientific information should be freely shared with others and I would hope that people lucky enough to attend overseas conferences, not only those funded by the taxpayer, would share significant information with us all on this Forum.
Our Auckland Mini-conference (September 26th) was very well attended ( 21, including 8 non-members) at a very pleasant informal meeting - and many thanks to Sarah Aldington & her AirNZ team for her enthusiasm in organising this event and free use of the venue.
The intended 'Space' theme at Vanuatu was followed up here by Dr Kira Bacal & Dr Karen Willcox...
Kira Bacal has worked at NASA developing medical protocols for spaceflights and gave us an interactive session which threw a whole new light on problem-solving & thinking outside the square for a variety of space situations - eg: the difficulties of doing CPR in microgravity - get them on the table first then it's ben-ze-knees compressions.
Karen Willcox is (we hope) NZ's future astronaut and described the exhaustive astronaut testing that she went through (MRI everything, colonoscopies & psych testing) as well as practical demonstrations on how to move in microgravity with counter-rotation movements (try it by kneeling on a revolving chair).
Ben Johnstone also updated us on the topics covered in Vanuatu including Pooshans futile attempts to demonstrate the new online CASA medicals using a dial-up internet connection.
The days of tourists entering the space environment are still a while away but the special risks of space travel need to be understood by those who might assess future space travel 'participants'.
I have a 9 page summary, which Kira Bacal & I are working on, of the effects of space on humans and the current suggested disqualifying conditions for tourist space travel - these are the more practical issues we are going to face in the next few years as the public apply to travel. If you'd like a copy of this, let me (fredspoons@xtra.co.nz ) know [not the whole Forum please] & I'll send it to you by e-mail.
Living on Earth may be expensive but at least it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.
Our Aussie cousins have not, in fact, been producing Avmedia magazine over the last couple of years - it's now renamed JASAM - but the latest edition has just been released in August. I've received a copy of the glossy papered mag .. there are 3 original articles -
1. The physical, physiological & psychological stressors of the
aeromedical environment (Jeffrey C Stephenson)
2. Screening passenger fitness to fly & medical kits on board
commercial aircraft (Ian Cheng)
3. Flying solo with Type 1 Diabetes - Australian first (Roger Serong)
Again - if you want a copy of these articles I could try to do a blurred scan or something. If you want to put an original article in the JASAM magazine contact fleminga@bigpond.net.au or to contact the editor, Warren Harrex - wharrex@bigpond.net.au .
For the Auckland Mob, the Committee Xmas party will be held on November 25th starting at the One Tree Hill Stardome Observatory at 7pm with a 1 hour private show, followed by some planet spotting & then probably on to dinner at One Tree Grill nearby. Prospective and other types of partners past, present & future will all be welcome. More details later when I've confirmed venues etc.
Gossip -
* The P6 group may be reforming - they had a meeting in Whellington on 17th September which we did not attend. It looks like this has been precipitated by the Andrews vs CAA case on which we are maintaining a neutral position until all the facts are known. I've had no further feedback to date.
* CAA plan to move to a central Wellington office in Feb 2011; there
may be concerns about patient confidentiality if they have a new open-plan office.
* ALPA had a meeting with the Director CAA on Sept 22nd and again put
forward our geographical numbers position in relation to pilots having difficulties accessing an examiner.
* Dave Powell spoke at the AIA conference in July (Blenheim) about the
reduction in the number of examiners & also floated the idea of joining with CASA as a combined Australasian regulatory authority.
* CASA have moved to an electronic medical examination form & still
require that their DAME's are members of ASAM.
* The recent 100th anniversary of Jean Batten celebrated her birthday
on 15th September rather than her England-NZ flight in 1936.
* Since 2000 there's been 13 deaths among 115 fixed-wing topdressing
pilots - cost-cutting pressures may be contributing to this.
* AirNZ flights to Sydney begin from Rotorua on December 12th
* There's a Pilot expo at Ardmore (Auckland) March 12-13th 2010
* & don't forget to plan for our own flyin meeting at Masterton on
Saturday March 27th 2010 to coincide with NZ's Air Safari.
* Come to think of it - why don't planes have airbags ? Are we not
worth it ?
* Lastly, the Patterson Trust scholarship will this year be granted to
one of several applicants. If you know anyone who might be interested get their application in before October 31st (to 'fredspoons' again) - details below -
And remember -
It's always better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here.
Copyright AMSNZ 2009.