TP 13312

•	Foreword
•	Section 1
•	Section 2
•	Neurology
•	Cardiovascular
•	Diabetes
•	Asthma
•	Other Policies
•	Contacts
•	Alternate Formats

Civil Aviation Medical Branch Organization and Administration

• CAM Headquarters
• CAM Regional Offices
• Figure 1 - TC Aviation Regions
• Licensing
• Civil Aviation Medical Examiners (CAMEs)
• Termination of Appointments

The Civil Aviation Medicine (CAM) Branch is one of several branches of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Transport Canada. The Director of Civil Aviation Medicine reports to the Director General of Civil Aviation. 

CAM Headquarters 

CAM Headquarters is located in the Transport Canada Building, 330 Sparks Street, Tower “C”, Place de Ville, Ottawa, K1A 0N8. 

The mandate of CAM is to provide medical advice and assistance in setting out physical standards for Civil Aviation personnel; to advise in all problems connected with the health of travellers by air. 

The mission is to ensure aircrew and air traffic controllers are medically fit, to close gaps in scientific knowledge of Canadian aviation medicine, to promote health and safety in the field of aviation and to prevent aircraft accidents due to medically related human factors. 

CAM Regional Offices

There are currently four Regional offices across Canada located in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal offices are under the direction of a Regional Aviation Medical Officer (RAMO) while the office in Vancouver is staffed by an Aviation Medical Officer. The RAMOs are responsible for the selection and training of CAMEs, for reviewing the medical examination reports of pilots, flight engineers, and air traffic controllers, and for approving an appropriate medical category for aviation personnel. CAM does not issue licences, it issues Medical Certificates (MCs). Licensing is a responsibility of Transport Canada, General Aviation. As a CAME, you may
now renew MCs, for the full validity period, of licensed aviation personnel for renewal medical examinations only. Initial medical reports, category upgrades and removal or addition of restrictions to a MC must be sent to the RAMO for assessment. 

Figure 1 - Transport Canada Regions

Licensing 

All pilots, flight engineers, and air traffic controllers must be licensed by Transport Canada, General Aviation Branch. After completing such requirements as flight training, written examinations, and flight tests, an applicant is granted a licence by the department. Licences do not have a validity period, but must be validated by a current MC which has a limited duration. There are four medical categories shown on the medical certificate, each of which validates a different type of licence. The types, the required medical categories and the validity periods of the licences are shown in the Medical Examination Requirements Table. (Figure 2)

Civil Aviation Medical Examiners (CAMEs)

CAMEs are appointed on the basis of need, by the RAMO or AMO on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Interested physicians apply to the CAM office in their region and are interviewed by the RAMO prior to appointment. If accepted as a designated CAME, they must await the receipt of the official letter of appointment before performing any aviation medical examinations. The letter of appointment will be sent together with a full CAME authority package, including this Handbook, a CAME numbered stamp and a wall certificate. All CAMEs who are newly appointed will be required to
attend a training seminar at the earliest opportunity, and then no less than once every four years.

Aviation medical examinations may only be carried out by a CAME. In the case of pilots residing overseas, the examination may be carried out by a medical examiner approved by the licensing authority of a contracting state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Appointment of CAMEs in areas outside Canada is at the discretion
of the Senior Consultant, Operations, Policy and Standards, of Civil Aviation Medicine Branch or the Director of Civil Aviation Medicine.

All CAME appointments are valid for a period of four years, renewable upon the recommendation of the RAMO. Re-appointment will depend on the quality and timeliness of reports, demonstrated continuing interest in aviation medicine, and feedback from the aviation community. There must also be a continuing requirement for services in the CAME’s designated geographic area.

Termination of Appointments

It is rare for a CAME appointment to be terminated. If there are significant problems with the quality of the medical information being submitted, the RAMO will contact the CAME and take whatever remedial action is necessary to assist in solving the problem.

Appointments may be terminated for any of the following reasons:

1. Frequent or continual low quality professional performance.
2. Failure to provide reasonably prompt service. 
3. Unethical conduct.
4. Loss or suspension of medical licence. 
5. Prolonged inability to provide service due to ill health or disability.
6. Change of geographic location. 
7. Voluntary relinquishment of the appointment by a CAME.

CAMEs may, at any time, request that their appointment be terminated.