ATPL TK exams expiry - extensions?

[CrazyScientist]

Hello

I completed my ATPL exams in August 2015, and so have until this coming August (2018) to have my CPL/IR completed before the exam passes expire.

I was doing pretty well with my training in that I managed to complete about half my hour building and was about to start my IR in March of this year. Unfortunately, when it came to getting my Class 1 medical, I was grounded (unfit for Class 1 and 2) and have been since. I am currently going through very lengthy appeals processes.

My concern now is that even if I manage to successfully regain medical certification, I won't have much time left to finish my hour building and complete my IR then CPL before my exams expire.

Given the delay in completing my training (possibly putting me over the August deadline) will have been down to the extreme delays in getting my case assessed by the CAA (9 months to go through the initial assessment then the secondary review/appeal), I've been looking into the possibility of the licensing department at the CAA granting an extension to the normal 36 month deadline for completing the CPL/IR.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I've looked online, and it seems that the CAA used to grant extensions for various issues, including for more minor ones such as skill tests delayed due to weather or maintenance problems. I'd have thought that a 9 month (and counting) delay due to the inefficiency of the CAA would hold more weight.

However, the only cases I can find are pre-EASA. I'm just concerned that now it's a body higher than the CAA that makes the rules. Presumably it will be correspondingly more difficult for the CAA to grant exceptions to those rules?

I have been in touch with the FCL department over the phone, and the immediate reaction didn't suggest it would be impossible. I do need to write to the technical team though as it would be a matter of policy, and unfortunately I have to wait for the CAA to re-open next week. Would be great to get any feedback from those with experience in the meantime though!

Thanks