CAA taking long time to give an answer

[ElinaGautier]

Hello,

I've posted here a few months asking about how my childhood condition could affect my chances of getting a medical.

I went for a 2nd class medical, all results were good and the doctor wanted to issue me the medical but he said because I wrote to CAA about my condition before that, he has to consult with them.

So I got all my documents like history of my condition and report from a doctor which was good because I didnt suffer from anything for many years.

Just to note that my reports were obtained from Russia and translated into English.

So, everything was sent off to CAA and now it's been more than a month and still no answer.

I am getting worried now. Is there a problem? Or is there anything wrong? Why does it take such a long time? Or does those sort of things usually take a long time?

[Capot]

Re your last line:

No.

No.

Because that's what the UK CAA does.

Yes.

Why not try the direct approach and call them? You never know; you might catch some-one off-guard, neither on holiday, nor in-a-meeting, nor having a "sick" day, nor on a training break, nor on a corporate day out for team-building, and not on his or her tea-break.

But don't expect too much.

[cavortingcheetah]

You should call them just in case they've lost all your paperwork. It's my experience that if you telephone them and ask nicely, you'll be given some idea a to where in the pipeline your application has become stuck. You could also give your doctor, the one who did your medical, a call as well?

[ElinaGautier]

How can I call CAA directly?

Because I tried to find a number in Internet but only found an email.

I already phoned my doctor quite a few and he doesn't seem to know what's going on. At times I even start to wonder if he actually did send the paperwork off...

[Fostex]

I would call them directly. There will always be an AME there who you should be able to speak to even if it is not a specialist in your particular case. Aeromed employ numerous consultants who only work one day every week/two weeks in their CAA role so there can sometimes be a delay in getting a final report, however they should be able to give you an update.



Best of luck.



Aeromedical Centre
CAA Safety Regulation Group
Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex RH6 0YR



For enquiries and appointments:
Telephone Call Centre +44 (0)1293 573700

[ElinaGautier]

Thanks a lot :D

Will call them up today

[ElinaGautier]

So I called CAA and they told me that they gave some information to my doctor and that I should contact him. I contacted him and he said that he haven't heard from them.

It looks really stranger to me... don't evenly know what to do now :(

[Capot]

To begin with, ask them which doctor they sent the information to; name, address, and date of dispatch.

They'll either provide that, which gives you something to follow up on with your doctor or the reason your doctor didn't get it, or when they look for the information they'll find that they didn't send it after all, rapidly do so, and tell you it was sent.

If they prevaricate, escalate to the head honcho without delay. He's called Andrew Haines, and his previous career in the rail industry, including being Managing Director of South West Trains, and Managing Director of the Rail Division for First Group plc clearly makes him the right person to ensure high "customer service" standards from an aviation regulator.

The faultless customer service, and attention to every detail to ensure customer satisfaction, offered by those two organisations tell us all we need to know.

Failing that, try the Chairlady who, according to the CAA website is still a Deidre Hutton, the Quango Queen whose expertise seems to centre on safety in manufacturing chocolate bars. (I thought she had gone, to another quango of course, but apparently not.)

Cynical about the CAA? Moi? Never.

[cavortingcheetah]

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_Med_CAMF10092013.pdf

Dr Nigel Dowdall might be the man to whom you should ask to speak.
(Neatly avoiding the split infinitive.)

[ElinaGautier]

Hi, guys

Finally I got reply from CAA which is positive so I am going to start flying now :)

Thanks a lot of your advices!