27 Duty of Authority to notify accidents and incidents to Transport Accident Investigation Commission

(1) As soon as practicable after any accident or incident is notified to the Authority under section 26, the Authority shall notify the Transport Accident Investigation Commission that the Authority has been notified of the accident or incident, if it is-
- (b) a serious incident in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
(2) Where the Authority has been notified of a search and rescue operation under section 26(3), the Authority shall forthwith notify the Transport Accident Investigation Commission accordingly.

27A Interpretation

(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,-
- accredited medical conclusion means the conclusion reached by 1 or more medical experts acceptable to the Director for the purposes of the case concerned, in consultation with flight operations or any other experts that may be necessary
- applicant means a person who has applied for a medical certificate; and includes a licence holder who has reapplied for a medical certificate
- licence holder means a person who-
  - (a) holds an aviation document or is a pilot; and
  - (b) holds, or is required under the rules to hold, a medical certificate
- medical certificate means a medical certificate-
  - (a) issued by the Director under this Part to an applicant or licence holder; or
  - (b) recognised by the Director under the rules
- operator includes an air traffic service provider.
(2) A medical certificate is not an aviation document.
(3) In this Part, the phrase privileges to which a medical certificate relates, and its variations, means those privileges under this Act that may be exercised by a person who-
- (a) holds a current aviation document; or
- (b) is permitted under the rules to operate an aircraft solo as a pilot.

27B Power of Director to issue medical certificate

(1) After considering an application for a medical certificate, the Director must, as soon as practicable but no later than 30 working days after the date of receiving the report of the medical examiner, issue the medical certificate if he or she is satisfied that the applicant meets the medical standards prescribed in the rules, unless the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has any characteristic that may interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges to which the medical certificate relates.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Director may, relying on flexibility, issue a medical certificate to the applicant.
(3) In subsection (2), flexibility means the use of medical judgment to issue a medical certificate if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- (a) an accredited medical conclusion indicates that in special circumstances the applicant's failure to meet any medical standard prescribed in the rules is such that the exercise of the privileges to which a medical certificate relates is not likely to jeopardise aviation safety; and
- (b) the relevant ability, skill, and experiences of the applicant and operational conditions have been given due consideration; and
- (c) the medical certificate is endorsed with any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements when the safe performance of the applicant's duties is dependent on compliance with those conditions, restrictions, or endorsements.
(4) The Director may impose any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements on a medical certificate issued under this section.
(5) Before issuing a medical certificate, the Director-
- (a) must have regard to the report of the medical examiner and any other information that may be relevant; and
- (b) may require the applicant, at the applicant's expense, to undertake any other tests, examinations, or re-examinations conducted by any suitably qualified and experienced person, or to provide any medical information, as the Director reasonably considers necessary to assess the applicant.
(6) If the Director requires an applicant to undertake any other test, examination, or re-examination, or to provide any medical information, the period in which the Director must make a decision in relation to the medical certificate under this section does not include the number of days that are required to conduct and deliver the results of the test, examination, or re-examination, or to provide the medical information, to the Director.
(7) The Director must maintain a register of current medical certificates issued under this section.
(8) Any decision made under this section by the Director in relation to a medical certificate other than a decision under subsection (5)(b) is subject to section 27L(review of decisions regarding medical certificates or applications)

27C Changes in medical condition of licence holder

(1) Subject to any directions that the Director may issue under section 27G(1)(b), if a licence holder is aware of, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, any change in his or her medical condition or the existence of any previously undetected medical condition that may interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges to which his or her medical certificate relates, the licence holder-
- (a) must advise the Director of the change as soon as practicable; and
- (b) may not exercise the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates.
(2) Subject to any directions that the Director may issue under section 27G(1)(b), if an aviation examiner or medical examiner or operator is aware of, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, any change in the medical condition of a licence holder or the existence of any previously undetected medical condition in the licence holder that may interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates, the aviation examiner or medical examiner or operator must advise both the licence holder and the Director of the change as soon as practicable.
(3) Subject to any directions that the Director may issue under section 27G(1)(b), if a medical practitioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a licence holder and is aware, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, that the licence holder has a medical condition that may interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates, the medical practitioner must, as soon as practicable,-
- (a) inform the licence holder that the Director will be advised of the condition; and
- (b) advise the Director of the condition.
(4) An aviation examiner or medical examiner or a medical practitioner is not subject to any civil or criminal liability for-
- (a) doing an indemnified act in good faith in the course of carrying out his or her functions under this Part; or
- (b) doing an indemnified act in good faith in the course of answering any questions put to him or her by the Director that-
  - (i) concern a licence holder; and
  - (ii) are relevant to any action the Director may take under this Part.
(5) In this section, indemnified act means any of the following acts:
- (a) advising the Director, whether in writing or otherwise, that a licence holder-
  - (i) may not meet the medical standards prescribed in the rules; or
  - (ii) may be unable to exercise safely the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates:
- (b) expressing to the Director, whether in writing or otherwise, an opinion that the licence holder who the aviation examiner or medical examiner or medical practitioner has examined or treated may be unable to exercise safely the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates because of-
  - (i) illness or any bodily or mental infirmity, defect, incapacity, or risk of incapacity suffered by the licence holder; or
  - (ii) the effect on the licence holder of treatment for any illness, infirmity, defect, incapacity, or risk of incapacity:
- (c) stating to the Director, whether in writing or otherwise,-
  - (i) the nature of a licence holder's illness, infirmity, defect, incapacity, or risk of incapacity; or
  - (ii) the effect on a licence holder of treatment for any illness, infirmity, defect, incapacity, or risk of incapacity.

27D Medical examination, report, and disclosure

(1) Before the Director issues a medical certificate, an applicant must have a medical examination by a medical examiner who must forward his or her report to the Director.
(2) The Director may, by written notice, require any applicant to disclose, or authorise the disclosure of, any information relevant to his or her medical condition or history for the purpose of determining whether or not the applicant is eligible for a medical certificate under section 27B.

27E Expiry of medical certificate

The Director may, on receiving an application for a medical certificate from a licence holder before the expiry of his or her existing medical certificate, grant an extension of no more than 60 days from the expiry date of the licence holder's existing medical certificate with any additional conditions, restrictions, or endorsements as the Director considers necessary.

27F Designation of aviation examiners and medical examiners

(1) The Director must designate, by issuing an aviation document under section 9, 1 or more medical examiners to conduct examinations under section 27D.
(2) The Director may designate, by issuing an aviation document under section 9, 1 or more aviation examiners to conduct specified examinations that the Director may require under this Part.

27G General directions and emergency directives

(1) The Director may, by notice in the Gazette, issue general directions in relation to-
- (a) conducting examinations of applicants and licence holders, and reporting the results of those examinations to the Director; and
(2) Before issuing general directions under subsection (1), the Director must consult with those persons, health professionals with aviation medical experience, representative groups within the aviation industry or elsewhere, government departments, and Crown agencies that he or she considers appropriate.
(3) General directions issued in relation to the matters specified in subsection (1)(a) or (c) must be-
- (a) notified in writing to aviation examiners or medical examiners; and
- (b) incorporated in a medical manual issued by the Director.
(4) The Director may issue directives in emergency situations without consultation or prior notice in the Gazette, but those directives-
- (a) must be published in the Gazette as soon as practicable after they are issued; and
- (b) expire on the day that is 90 days after the date on which they were issued.
(5) The Director may reissue, under subsection (1), directives issued under subsection (4) before or after they expire.

27H Investigation of medical condition of licence holder

(1) The Director may, by written notice, require any licence holder, at the licence holder's expense, to undertake any tests, examinations, or re-examinations conducted by any suitably qualified and experienced person, or to provide any medical information, at any time before the expiry of his or her medical certificate, if the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that the licence holder-
- (a) may be unable to exercise safely the privileges to which the medical certificate relates; or
- (b) has obtained his or her medical certificate fraudulently.
(2) If the Director has delegated under section 27O the authority to issue medical certificates to any medical examiner, the Director may, by written notice to the relevant licence holder, withdraw any medical certificate that the medical examiner has issued under that authority within 60 days after the date it was issued if the Director requires the licence holder to supply additional medical information, in which case the Director must decide whether to reissue the medical certificate in accordance with section 27B.
(3) The Director may, by written notice, require any licence holder, at the Authority's expense, to undertake any tests, examinations, or re-examinations conducted by any suitably qualified and experienced person, or to provide any medical information, at any time before the expiry of his or her medical certificate if-
- (a) the Director-
  - (i) is monitoring licence holders on the basis of random selection from the register of current medical certificates that is required to be maintained under section 27B(7); or
  - (ii) has reasonable grounds to believe that the licence holder's medical certificate was issued in error; or
  - (iii) is monitoring aviation examiners or medical examiners for compliance with the requirements of this Act or the rules; and
- (b) the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that any of those tests, examinations, re-examinations, or medical information are necessary to investigate the matters specified in paragraph (a).
(4) The Director may, by written notice, require any licence holder to disclose, or authorise the disclosure of, any relevant information for the purpose of determining whether or not the licence holder-
- (a) meets the medical standards prescribed in the rules; or
- (b) is able to exercise safely the privileges to which the medical certificate relates.

27I Revocation, suspension, amendment, and surrender of medical certificate

(1) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a licence holder may be unable to exercise safely the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates, the Director may, by written notice to the licence holder,-
- (a) suspend any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; or
- (b) impose or amend any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements on any medical certificate issued to the licence holder.
(2) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a licence holder is unable to exercise safely the privileges to which the licence holder's medical certificate relates, the Director must, by written notice to the licence holder,-
- (a) suspend any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; or
- (b) revoke any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; or
- (c) impose or amend any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements on any medical certificate issued to the licence holder.
(3) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who has been delegated authority under section 27O to issue a medical certificate has issued a medical certificate other than in accordance with this Part or the terms of the delegated authority, the Director-
- (a) may, by written notice to the licence holder,-
  - (i) suspend any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; or
  - (ii) revoke any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; or
  - (iii) impose or amend any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements on any medical certificate issued to the licence holder; and
- (b) may, by written notice to the person with delegated authority, revoke that person's delegated authority.
(4) Any notice issued under this section must state the grounds for the Director's decision.
(5) A notice of suspension issued under subsection (1)(a) or subsection (2)(a) or subsection (3)(a)(i) remains in force until the Director determines what action, if any, referred to in subsection (7) is to be taken, but any such suspension expires 10 working days after the date that the suspension is imposed unless, before the expiry of that 10-working-day period, the Director extends the suspension for a further specified period not exceeding 10 working days (the aggregate suspension period may not exceed 20 working days after the date on which the suspension is imposed).
(6) Any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements that are imposed or made under subsection (1)(b) or subsection (2)(c) or subsection (3)(a)(iii) remain in force until the Director determines what action, if any, referred to in subsection (7) is to be taken, but any of those conditions, restrictions, or endorsements expire 10 working days after the date that they are imposed unless, before the expiry of that 10-working-day period, the Director extends the conditions, restrictions, or endorsements for a further specified period not exceeding 10 working days (the aggregate period may not exceed 20 working days after the date on which the conditions, restrictions, or endorsements are imposed).
(7) If a notice is issued under subsection (1) or subsection (2) or subsection (3), the Director may, by written notice, take 1 or more of the following actions:
- (a) impose or amend conditions, restrictions, or endorsements for a specified period:
- (b) withdraw any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements:
- (c) disqualify the licence holder from holding the medical certificate for a specified period:
- (d) revoke the medical certificate:
- (e) cancel the suspension.
(8) If the Director revokes a medical certificate under subsection (2)(b) or subsec- tion (3)(a)(ii) or subsection (7)(d) or subsection (11) or imposes any conditions, restrictions, or endorsements on a medical certificate under subsection (7)(a) or disqualifies a licence holder under subsection (7)(c), the licence holder has 20 working days from the date of the decision to ask the convener to review the decision under section 27L, after which time the decision may not be referred to the convener.
(9) A person who has had his or her medical certificate revoked, withdrawn, or suspended or who is disqualified from holding the medical certificate for a specified period must surrender the medical certificate to the Director, a person authorised by the Director, or a constable.
(10) If the Director issues a notice under this section, the Director-
- (a) must also, if practicable, notify any aviation document holder affected by the notice, other than the licence holder, if the Director reasonably considers it necessary for reasons of aviation safety; and
- (b) may notify any other affected aviation document holder.
(11) The Director may, by written notice, revoke a medical certificate if a licence holder fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a demand under section 27H(1) or section 27H(3) or section 27H(4) within a reasonable period of time.
(12) Any licence holder may return his or her medical certificate to the Director and ask the Director, in writing, to cancel the medical certificate.
(13) If a licence holder asks the Director to cancel his or her medical certificate, the Director must-
- (a) cancel the medical certificate; and
- (b) update the register of current medical certificates.

27J Appointment of convener and deputy convener

(1) The Minister must-
- (a) appoint a convener and a deputy convener for a period of no longer than 3 years; and
- (b) consult with the Director, and other parties as the Minister thinks fit, before making either appointment; and
- (c) take into account any representations made under paragraph (b).
(2) The Minister may renew an appointment as convener or deputy convener for 1 or more periods, each of which may not exceed 3 years.
(3) If the Minister renews an appointment, he or she must-
- (a) consult with the Director, and other parties as the Minister thinks fit, before making the renewal; and
- (b) take into account any representations made under paragraph (a).
(4) The convener and the deputy convener must-
- (a) be medical practitioners who are suitably qualified, and experienced or knowledgeable in civil aviation; and
- (b) be able to represent the public interest in aviation safety.
(5) If the convener is unavailable for any reason, the deputy convener must discharge the duties of the convener under this section until-
- (a) the convener is available; or
- (b) the Minister has appointed a new convener.

27K Cancellation of appointment as convener or deputy convener

(1) The Minister may cancel a person's appointment under section 27J(1) if the person fails to discharge satisfactorily his or her duties as convener or deputy convener, as the case may be.
(2) Before cancelling an appointment, the Minister must-
- (a) give the person written notice of the matters that constitute grounds for cancellation; and
- (b) give the person a reasonable opportunity to make representations that explain why his or her appointment should not be cancelled; and
- (c) take into account any representations made under paragraph (b).
(3) If the Minister cancels an appointment, the Minister must give the person written notice of the cancellation that sets out the grounds for the cancellation.

27L Review of decisions regarding medical certificates or applications

(1) A licence holder or an applicant may, within 20 working days of a decision being made, ask the convener in writing to review the following decisions made by the Director about that person's medical certificate or application:
- (a) any decision made under section 27B, other than a decision made under section 27B(5)(b):
- (b) any decision made under section 27I, other than a decision made under-
  - (i) section 27I(1); or
  - (ii) section 27I(2)(a); or
  - (iii) section 27I(2)(c); or
  - (iv) section 27I(3)(a)(i); or
  - (v) section 27I(3)(a)(iii).
(2) If such a request is made, the convener must, as soon as practicable, review the decision.
(3) The convener-
- (a) must draw on the advice and expertise of at least 1 person who the convener is satisfied is suitably qualified and experienced to assist the convener in his or her assessment of the decision that is under review; and
- (b) must have regard to the purpose and scheme of the Act and the Director's duties under the Act when carrying out his or her review of the decision; and
- (c) may require the person who asked for the review, at that person's expense, to undertake any other tests, examinations, or re-examinations conducted by any suitably qualified and experienced person, or to provide any medical information, as the convener considers reasonably necessary to carry out his or her review of the decision; and
- (d) must receive and consider the relevant evidence provided under subsection (6).
(4) The convener must, as soon as practicable, report the results of his or her review to the Director in writing.
(5) The Director must, within 10 working days of receiving the convener's report, implement the results of the decision contained within the convener's report or, if the Director does not implement the convener's report, notify the licence holder or applicant, in writing, of the Director's reasons for not doing so.
(6) The licence holder or applicant or Director may, either directly or through his or her medical experts, participate in the review process by providing relevant evidence to the convener regarding any medical matter at issue with respect to the decision that is under review.
(7) The convener may not review a decision made by the Director if the convener-
- (a) acted as an aviation examiner or medical examiner of the person requesting the review with respect to that person's application for a medical certificate; or
- (b) has any other conflict of interest with respect to the person's medical certificate.
(8) Any decision by the Director under review by the convener remains in force until the Director makes a final decision under subsection (5).

27M Referral to convener by agreement

(1) An application for a medical certificate may, by agreement in writing between the Director and the applicant, be referred to the convener for advice before the Director makes a decision on the application.
(2) If an application is referred to the convener under subsection (1),-
- (a) the deadline imposed on the Director under section 27B(1) does not apply; and
- (b) the convener must,-
  - (i) as soon as practicable, assess the application; and
  - (ii) draw on the advice and expertise of at least 1 person who the convener is satisfied is suitably qualified and experienced to assist the convener in his or her assessment of the application; and
  - (iii) require the applicant, at the applicant's expense, to undertake any tests, examinations, or re-examinations conducted by any suitably qualified and experienced person, or to provide any medical information, that the convener considers reasonably necessary to carry out his or her assessment of the application; and
  - (iv) have regard to the purpose and scheme of the Act and the Director's duties under the Act when making his or her assessment of the application; and
  - (v) as soon as practicable, report the results of his or her assessment to the Director in writing; and
  - (vi) receive and consider the relevant evidence provided under subsection (5).
(3) The Director must, within 10 working days of receiving the convener's report,-
- (a) consider the convener's report; and
- (b) make his or her decision in writing; and
- (c) provide to the applicant-
(4) If an application is referred to the convener under this section, the applicant may not ask the convener to review the Director's eventual decision.
(5) The applicant or Director may, either directly or through his or her medical experts, participate in the convener's assessment of the application by provid- ing relevant evidence to the convener regarding any medical matter at issue with respect to that application.
(6) The convener may not assess the application if the convener-
- (a) acted as an aviation examiner or medical examiner of the applicant with respect to that person's application for a medical certificate; or
- (b) has any other conflict of interest with respect to the person's medical certificate.

27N Delegation of Director's powers under this Part to medical practitioners who are employees of Authority

(1) The Director may, either generally or particularly, delegate to any suitably qualified medical practitioner who is an employee of the Authority any of the Director's functions and powers under this Part or under the rules relating to medical certification.
(2) Every delegation under this section must be in writing.
(3) [Repealed]
(4) Section 23A applies to a delegation under this section.
(5) Any delegation under this section may be made to a suitably qualified medical practitioner who is the holder of a specified office of the Authority.

27O Delegation of Director's power under this Part to medical examiners who are not employees of Authority

(1) The Director may, either generally or particularly, delegate to any suitably qualified medical examiner who is not an employee of the Authority any of the Director's functions and powers under this Part or under the rules relating to medical certification other than the power under this Part to revoke medical certificates.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Director must delegate to suitably qualified medical examiners who are not employees of the Authority the power to issue medical certificates to any person who qualifies for a medical certificate under section 27B(1) or who otherwise meets the criteria for a standard medical assessment as prescribed in the rules or by the Minister under section 27Q(3).
(3) Every delegation under this section must be in writing.
(4) Subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the Director, any medical examiner to whom any functions or powers are delegated under this section may exercise those functions and powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred or imposed on that per- son directly by this Act and not by delegation.
(5) Any delegation under this section may be made to a specified medical exam- iner or a specified class of medical examiner or to the holder or holders of a specified office.
(6) Every delegation under this section must be given for a specified period but in any event must be revocable at will.
(7) No delegation under this section may-
- (a) affect or prevent the exercise of any function or power by the Director; or
- (b) affect the responsibility of the Director for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.
(8) Every delegation under this section continues in force until it is revoked or it expires, whether or not the person who made the delegation ceases to hold office.
(9) Every person purporting to act under any delegation under this section may, when reasonably requested to do so, produce evidence of his or her authority to so act.
(10) The Director may not delegate under this section any of his or her functions or powers under section 27L or section 27M.

27P Right of appeal to District Court

Any person affected by a decision of the Director under section 27B (other than a decision made under section 27B(5)(b)), section 27I(7), section 27I(11), section 27L, or section 27M has a right of appeal to the District Court under section 66.

27Q Transitional provisions

(1) Part 67 of the rules (as it read immediately before the commencement of this Part) continues to apply to-
- (a) any application for a medical certificate lodged before the commencement of this Part:
- (b) any action begun with respect to a medical certificate before the commencement of this Part.
(2) In the absence of rules providing for the issue of aviation documents to aviation examiners or medical examiners,-
- (a) the Minister must establish the selection criteria for the issue of aviation documents to aviation examiners or medical examiners or classes of aviation examiners or medical examiners that the Director must use to issue those aviation documents, including any reasonable requirements-
  - (i) for examinations, training, and experience; and
  - (ii) for ongoing training and development; and
  - (iii) relating to the classification of aviation examiners and medical examiners and any related standards and restrictions on the exercise of their functions and powers; and
- (b) the Director must designate, by issuing an aviation document under section 9, 1 or more medical examiners to conduct examinations under section 27D; and
- (c) the Director may designate, by issuing an aviation document under section 9, 1 or more aviation examiners to conduct specified examinations that the Director may require under this Part.
(3) In the absence of rules under section 30(b)(x) or section 30(b)(xi), the Minister must establish the criteria for the grant of delegations, including-
- (a) any requirements for the grant of delegations by the Director under section 27O(2); and
- (b) any requirements for the purposes of determining suitably qualified medical examiners and establishing the criteria for standard medical assessments under section 27O(2).

27R Savings

Any medical certificate issued under the rules before the commencement of this Part is deemed to be a medical certificate issued under this Part.