Unable to contact Transport Canada

[mtl183181]

tl;dr: I'm doing my PPL currently and have reached the point where I can do my first solo, however I still don't know the status of my cat 1 medical (which I did in March) and I can't really proceed without it. I've tried contacting TC regarding my medical status numerous times over the phone on several different phone numbers, and by email on several email addresses; nobody ever answers. I don't really know what else to do. Also, would getting a cat 4 medical allow me to do my solo sooner maybe?

I'm a PPL student and I've reached the point where it's time for my first solo. I've completed everything and all I need to know is whether or not I passed my cat 1 medical that I did back in March. The problem is that I can't get ahold of TC. I've tried calling the toll-free number 1-800-305-2059 at least 15 times within the past week. The automated message says their hours are 9-2pm, but not once have they answered. I've called the local number 613-998-9604, nobody answers. I emailed QUEMedecineAeronautiqueCivile-CivilAviationMedicineQUE@tc.gc.ca over a week ago and it sent an automatic reply saying:
"PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MAILBOX WILL BE IN USE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2020. AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2021, THE NEW ADDRESS WILL BE QUEMEDECINEAERONAUTIQUE-CIVILAVIATIONMEDICINEQUE@TC.GC.CA
This inbox is being monitored and we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible."
I emailed that email, and got an "address not found" error. I then called a different department of TC and the guy on the phone gave me the following email address aviation.que@tc.gc.ca and when I emailed it, it sent an automatic reply which included:
"Please note that only the Civil Aviation Medical Office in Ottawa is able to provide a status for a Category 1 or Category 3 medical certificates. In order to respect the protection of personal information, the Service Group Licensing does not have access to your medical file for those categories. It is important that all medical reports category 1 and category 3 be sent directly to the Civil Aviation Medical Office in Ottawa for assessment. The Service Group Licensing only processes category 4 declarations and therefore provide updates on those. To obtain the status or any questions regarding a medical certificate of a category 1 or category 3, or if you have a medical condition related to a medical declaration category 4, please contact the medical office at 1-800-305-2059 (choose language, choose option 3 for Civil Aviation Medicine or by email at: QUEMedecineAeronautiqueCivile-CivilAviationMedicineQUE@tc.gc.ca".
So at this point I've gone in a full circle and I don't know what else to do. I'm assuming they haven't processed my file yet, so would getting a category 4 medical done get me to my solo sooner?

[notwhoyouthinkIam]

Welcome to dealing with Transport Canada.

What region are you in?

[mtl183181]

Welcome to dealing with Transport Canada.

What region are you in?

I'm in Quebec, Montreal specifically.

[notwhoyouthinkIam]

Ontario's email is tc.aviationservicesont-servicesaviationont.tc@tc.gc.ca

I assume that there is one for Quebec that is similar. Try aviation.que@tc.gc.ca

[Inverted2]

The only time I actually got through to them in the past year is the payment #. They still like taking your money.

[bbingham]

Have you checked your online TC file? Might be able to find some answers there.

https://gart.tc.gc.ca/GetAccess/Saml/SS ... lang%3Deng

I use my banking info to log in. It'll show you your current address, medical status, etc. It also shows all the dates and results for any written exam or flight test/ppc.

[mtl183181]

Ontario's email is tc.aviationservicesont-servicesaviationont.tc@tc.gc.ca

I assume that there is one for Quebec that is similar. Try aviation.que@tc.gc.ca

Yeah I tried that email, no response unfortunately

[mtl183181]

Have you checked your online TC file? Might be able to find some answers there.

https://gart.tc.gc.ca/GetAccess/Saml/SS ... lang%3Deng

I use my banking info to log in. It'll show you your current address, medical status, etc. It also shows all the dates and results for any written exam or flight test/ppc.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

[200hr Wonder]

Your CAME has a secret unpublished number that goes direct to the RAMO office. Perhaps have them call and check?

[sullecpt]

I had about 6 months off work due to their own paperwork error on my medical. Called every day for months and emailed anyone who would let me listen. Even tried to go into the offices which were locked. They are a pathetic group of people. You know how I eventually got though? I used the option to speak to the billing department....

I loathe TC

[AirFrame]

Your CAME has a secret unpublished number that goes direct to the RAMO office. Perhaps have them call and check?

Exactly. You paid the CAME something like $200 to do the medical exam in the first place, make them do something for it.

[tsgarp]

Maybe now that they are all vaccinated they can get ther asses to work.

[CL-Skadoo!]

This was a long time ago, but I recall my cat 4 was signed off and I had a sheet of paper from them that allowed me to solo. Go get the CAT 4 if that's still the case.

[mtl183181]

Your CAME has a secret unpublished number that goes direct to the RAMO office. Perhaps have them call and check?

Will do, thanks!

[mtl183181]

I had about 6 months off work due to their own paperwork error on my medical. Called every day for months and emailed anyone who would let me listen. Even tried to go into the offices which were locked. They are a pathetic group of people. You know how I eventually got though? I used the option to speak to the billing department....

I loathe TC

Yep, I did the same and they gave me another email address... I never received a reply

[mtl183181]

This was a long time ago, but I recall my cat 4 was signed off and I had a sheet of paper from them that allowed me to solo. Go get the CAT 4 if that's still the case.

You mean signed off as in you had a valid cat 4 immediately after the medical exam was done? I thought it would still have to be sent in to TC for them to process it first

[CL-Skadoo!]

This was a long time ago, but I recall my cat 4 was signed off and I had a sheet of paper from them that allowed me to solo. Go get the CAT 4 if that's still the case.

You mean signed off as in you had a valid cat 4 immediately after the medical exam was done? I thought it would still have to be sent in to TC for them to process it first

Yes, I recall having some kind of temporary document before I got my paper copy. It's been a long time, obviously.

[photofly]

This was a long time ago, but I recall my cat 4 was signed off and I had a sheet of paper from them that allowed me to solo. Go get the CAT 4 if that's still the case.

You mean signed off as in you had a valid cat 4 immediately after the medical exam was done? I thought it would still have to be sent in to TC for them to process it first

Common misconception. The application for the cat 4 medical permits you to be issued a student pilot permit. But you need the actual TC issued certificate to validate (and exercise) the SPP. And the certificate must come from TC.

The good news is that it’s a lot quicker to get a category 4 medical certificate than category 3 or 1. The category 4 application doesn’t need to go in front of the aeromedical people, it’s just an admin task at the TC office.

In a pinch TC ca email you a temporary certificate, but under no circumstances can the “sign off” from your doctor for a cat 4 be used to fly.

[mtl183181]

This was a long time ago, but I recall my cat 4 was signed off and I had a sheet of paper from them that allowed me to solo. Go get the CAT 4 if that's still the case.

You mean signed off as in you had a valid cat 4 immediately after the medical exam was done? I thought it would still have to be sent in to TC for them to process it first

Common misconception. The application for the cat 4 medical permits you to be issued a student pilot permit. But you need the actual TC issued certificate to validate (and exercise) the SPP. And the certificate must come from TC.

The good news is that it’s a lot quicker to get a category 4 medical certificate than category 3 or 1. The category 4 application doesn’t need to go in front of the aeromedical people, it’s just an admin task at the TC office.

In a pinch TC ca email you a temporary certificate, but under no circumstances can the “sign off” from your doctor for a cat 4 be used to fly.

So if I were to bring in the cat 4 medical declaration form (the one my doctor fills out) directly to a TC office, would they be able to issue me a temporary certificate there and then or would I/my doctor have to mail in the form? I only ask because I have yet to find a TC email address that they actually reply to.

Thanks for the help

[photofly]

I think most TC staff are working from home, and you can’t visit an office.

Email your category 4 declaration, explain TC’s inability to meet their own service standard is delaying your training and ask for a temporary medical certificate to be emailed back to you.

[co-joe]

If youre training towards a recreational pilot permit I'm pretty sure the medical is just a self declaration. Maybe you can use that as a loophole to get solo.

[photofly]

There is a self-declaration countersigned by a Physician licenced in Canada, in order to receive from Transport Canada a category 4 medical certificate. You must have the certificate issued by TC in your possession to exercise the privileges of your Student Pilot Permit, or Pilot Permit - Recreational.

There’s no way in Canada legally to self-certify yourself for solo flight.

[mtl183181]

I think most TC staff are working from home, and you can’t visit an office.

Email your category 4 declaration, explain TC’s inability to meet their own service standard is delaying your training and ask for a temporary medical certificate to be emailed back to you.

Alright, sounds good. Would you happen to know of a TC email address that they actually reply to?

[photofly]

You should join the queue using the regular email addresses. Your case isn’t more deserving of attention than everyone else’s, unfortunately, that processing your request should take priority.

[Bede]

This is a problem in all regions. It’s not just a Covid issue; they are massively short staffed for physicians at TC. The salaries have not kept up so why bother?

Wait times are around 6 months.