PaulB wrote:G-BLEW wrote:The official line from the CAA (there's an interview with Rachel Gardner-Poole, head of the CAA's GA Unit) in the next issue is…
We are working with the government to see if there is a way forward to enable pilots to continue to fly EASA aircraft using the self-declaration process.
Clearly everyone will be hoping that the CAA can report some positive news between now and April 8, but I'd advise anyone flying an EASA aircraft on a PMD and able to get a LAPL or class II medical to do so.
That's pretty glum news, isn't it? I wonder what is preventing them from extending it to say 31/12/20? Did they have to "work with government" to do it in the first place?
TBH the answer from the Ms Gardner-Poole seems to be a bit of a fob off and it seems tat the CAA is in danger of digging itself quite a deep hole (and throwing >8000 pilots into it! )
A couple of personal thoughts…
- I don't think it is a 'fob off' - it's a 'corporate' reply that is probably aligned with CAA/DfT policy. Given the situation we're in (transition period) and how politically charged the bigger picture is, I expected nothing different.
- Yes, I would imagine that the CAA did have to go though DfT. and I imagine they'll have to do so now.
- I realise this doesn't help, but it was always an exemption and never came with any guarantee of being renewed. The problem has been created by the CAA making something possible that is impossible in every other EASA state, so it seems a bit strange to hit them with this stick.
- If it is not renewed UK pilots with PMDs will still be significantly better off than pilots without LAPL or Class II medicals in any other EASA state.
- Please don't take that as me not having any sympathy for those affected.
Ian
Ian