G'day chasps,
Looking for some insight from some of you critters with thousands of hours under your belt.
I am an ex-army student pilot with 116 hours on Squirrels. Also hold a CPL(A).
In the MIL, I have passed a:
-Primary Handling Test (ccts with emergencies)
-General Handling Progress Test (GFPT with hooking, hoisting, limited power, confined pads, steep approach, autos and chip emergencies)
-Nav Test. PPL(H) by the Day VFR CASA Syllabus.
I put a case to CASA back when I got out of the Army (due to family circumstances beyond my control) and they quoted a section that says
"non-graduates do not receive any equivalent licence(s). The hours however do count".
I even submitted as Annexes the CASA Day VFR CPL(H) syllabus and the ADFHS's Basic RW Syllabus. This was to make the point that the only flying I had not completed was the Qualified (Restricted) Instrument Rating, which is NOT in the CASA syllabus. This proved fruitless.
With the new proposed changes to the regs coming, I thought that things would be more competency based.
Now it has been some years anyway. so at the end of the day I need a currency ride and I guess an R22 endorsement. Still think that it was bit of a "cop-out" by CASA to not look it as a "case-by-case" basis. The guy ffom the Perth office was good - an ex-Army chopper driver himself.
Anyhow, from here, what do you think my options are. Still down on PIC time and cross-country time. The Army said and I quote "you don't learn anything when you are solo". Even in my FW flying I find that one "a real gem"!!!
