Renewing a CPL(A)
Gents,
I would be grateful for a bit of advice on how to get out of a conundrum, which even the FCL people seem confused by:
I hold a current ATPL(H), initially issued by the CAA, but transferred many years ago to the IAA in Ireland, which I use in my 'day' job. It comes with a current Class 1 medical, issued in Ireland against my IAA Certificate / Reference Number.
I also held a CPL(A), which was also issued by the CAA in October 2006 (National Licence). The licence was to be re-issued no later than October 2011 (which I failed to do, as I was busy with my day job). My last fixed wing checks were Nov 2004 (IR-SPA-ME) and Dec 2004 (SE Piston Land).
I am trying to look at a CPL renewal in Northern Ireland (closest geographically to where I live) (probably on SE Piston due cost), but have hit a bit of a quandry.
The CAA FCL dept says that to renew my CPL I need a UK issued Medical Cert, however the UK AME states he cannot do this as its been >5 yrs since my last UK medical expiry (my EASA Form 147 class 1 medical has been current throughout). Therefore I would have to get an initial done at an aeronautical centre in the mainland UK (seems a bit extreme, and expensive). The CAA Aeromedical centre said they cannot see the difference, however I do not want to run the risk of doing the flying in the UK (N.I.), only to have the application rejected. (My other concern is that my IAA medical will have my Irish licence number and not my CAA reference no.)
Any feedback on the following would be gratefully received:
1) Any experience / suggestions on the medical certificate issue.
2) Confirmation on the validity of my plan (Training to the satisfaction of an ATO, followed by an LPC Renewal for CPL issue), with any minimum hours required.
Many Thanks