UK MFT urgently needed.

[kikatinalong]

Hi all,

Bit of background first. In April I had a retinal detachment to my right eye. Class 1 medical was suspended. I did my visual fields and have 5 missed spots on the very periphery of my right eye. None missed on my left or binocularly. CAA ophthalmologist said he would recommend reinstatement of my Class 1 with a multi crew restriction. Having sat on the paperwork for nearly 3 weeks, the CAA now want a Medical Flight Test as well. Does anybody know if this Flight Test has to be conducted on the type I'm rated (B744) or not. If not the CFI at my local flying school can do it, but I have'nt flown a SEP for nearly 25 years. If it is so does anybody know of an examiner and where I could get a sim on short notice, you see at the moment I'm unemployed having been made redundant in May and I have (or had if this doesn't work out) a job offer starting at the end of next week.

Any help appreciated.

[mad_jock]

Speak to the medical branch directly.

There isnt as such regulations on this and its a case by case job.

It may be they say you need to do it with a FIE in an SEP.

You could suggest this action in the SEP.

Ontrack usually have a FIE available at short notice.

[cavortingcheetah]

Best bet is to telephone the CAA medical section. Wednesdays or Fridays are particularly good for this because that's when the resident medical officer is there but the ladies who work at CAA medical are very helpful and clued up anyway. You need to establish who can do the test. I suspect that you can do the flight check on a SEP at your local flight school provided that you do the check with the CFI. It must, I suspect, be the CFI. The check has nothing much to do with a flight check. It's confirmation that in practical terms you can see other aircraft, ground features, airfields etc and so on sufficiently well as to be safe.
I'm basing those suppositions on a recent hearing assessment flight test that has come to my attention.
Don't go and ask them if it has to be done by an IRE in a 747. As previous writer said, suggest to them that you do it with your CFI in a SEP.
I'm sure the check is something in the order of a forty minute vision test not a renewal of SEP privileges, departure, quick GF, join and couple of circuits sort of thing.


http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/20140130MFTSubStandardVision.pdf

[kikatinalong]

Thanks guys,

Spoke with my AME, who spoke with CAA. I also rang the CAA and spoke with a Nurse Advisor. They want it in a "heavy jet" simulator, as an SEP would not be representative of the type of flying I will be doing. So have rang around a few places and as any "heavy jet" is suitable looks like I might be able to tee up a 767 sim and TRE in about a day or two.

[cavortingcheetah]

I'm only a humble pilot so can't comment on the perceived common sense involved in doing a vision safety check using a heavy jest simulator.
Sorry for the duff hypothesis and don't forget to keep a good lookout for rogue VFR traffic intruding into controlled airspace when you're puffing about on your pylons.

[mad_jock]

I would have thought a SEP would have been harder on your vision but hey ho I am just a pilot also.

Good luck hope it all works out in your light twin check ride ;-)

[Chris Opperman]

Only once you have passed the test, which you will, then take them up on their requirements! Full peripheral vision cannot be tested in a simulator, except for one or two specific simulators available in the world. They are missing the point here, and effectively wasting your money, but they have the final say so you must abide by their requirements for now.

[Scoobster]

I had a similar problem with my "visual fields" and had to do a MFT prior to reinstatement of my Class 2 AND to be considered for a Class 1 with OML.

Although not a CPL.. I took a MFT with the CFI on an SEP.. as I was doing my PPL but prior to going Solo.

Made to do 3 approaches with an emphasis on trying to spot other "traffic" and for the examiner to comment on my depth perception, ability to look out for traffic and GH.

[kikatinalong]

Thanks, for the info guys.

Its all done now. Got class 1 with OML. Must say, that all the people involved from my AME through to the CAA were most helpful in getting it all sorted before the start deadline of my new job. Now to get through the OCC course.