ASK-13
8th Feb 2018, 20:17
Is there any special tests required to maintain an E.A.S.A. Class One after the age of 65?
cavortingcheetah
8th Feb 2018, 21:58
I hung on to mine until I was seventy one. I resisted the hearing aid by explaining that I wouldn't wear the thing anyway and I had to make sure I didn't take Cialis within twenty four hours of flying. As far as I remember, Viagra or Levitra were fine to munch just before TOD with the cabin crew in mind.
Have to admit though that when the going got really rough, I had to work just a trifle harder than in the old days. There does come a time when the Alzheimer graph coffin corners on the experience one.
Mind you, I know a chap in JNB who, up until recently, was co piloting it on a 727 through Africa at seventy eight.
cavortingcheetah
9th Feb 2018, 21:20
There's more than one point lurking in that melange if one's mental faculties are sufficiently unimpaired by old age to be able to extrapolate them.
Loose rivets
9th Feb 2018, 23:56
Ah, but one is a gestalt melange.
But, in truth, in the last while I would not consider myself fit to command an aircraft. Something very difficult to define was wrong.
Now the last bombshell has pretty well ended all quality of life. Seemingly astonishingly fit after the odds of surgery, I was hit with Cochlea Hydrops. It may even be connected to vestibular migraine. Whatever, it's cr@p. In a few days, everything I'd achieved by having back, hernia, eye, and carpals done became quite pointless. I had no idea how much I'd miss classical piano. (the reason for the carpal tunnel ops.) I'd got no idea how much I'd miss being able to talk to people without concentrating on their lips. Some I can still hear, if they happen to be on the right frequency. Can't hear the Rivetess. :rolleyes:
So, this age thing is a lottery. 18 months ago I was test driving an M5 and it was like part of me. I felt beyond wonderful. I'd have taken a job on a 727 in the blink of an eye. Lovely old airplane.
Radgirl might well have something to say on the subject, but it was after the back and hernia surgery that I just didn't seem quite the same. I'd been told to avoid general anaesthetics in my dotage. But that was by my eye surgeon who may be biassed - certainly the turnover is far greater with a succession of 'locals'.
Anyway, trying to keep to the OP's thread. Certainly, when I went back to flying after a long break I was 59. They eased me in on Medium Weight Turboprop, though not one I'd flown before (an ATR) Once I'd got over all the ancillary exams like first aid, and fire fighting, the normal technical was easy - ONCE I'D ESCAPED FROM TOULOUSE!! That was a nightmare of bad teaching. I didn't have the robustness of someone that could sleep when they needed to. But all in all, I was a 60 yo that liked really pulling the aircraft around. (we had lots of empty sectors) Great fun.
One thing that would stop me from being so gung ho right now is an almost religious caring for the passengers. I look at each one as they walk out and felt a much greater burden of responsibility during the latter years. No, 'In the event of an emergency, climb over the passenger with me.' It's just not funny anymore. Thinking too deeply like that is not healthy.
Learning takes longer. Heck, my new Amazon bank card. Couldn't remember the pin today. I used to remember all my phone and pins. Now I can remember girlfriend's telephone numbers from 50 years ago. I wonder what that says about my neuronal mapping.
I've recently typed something on Quora, the science site, and it's got more Upvotes than anything I've written about gravity. In truth, the subject matter is frightening. I'm losing several contemporariness a year now, some I've known all my life. That has to mean something when one is considering putting an oldtimer in the sharp end.
One of the things that hit home about my post was not just forgetfulness in a couple of pals, but also a change in nature. Slight most of the time, and then a clue to quite a big change. Something they'd never have done when younger, like get irrationally angry.
So much of command fitness is to do with knowing the man. That's an established expression, so I'll skip any mention of woman. I fancy I know when a soul is slipping away and leaving an angry shell. Hmm, getting a bit The Perfect Code-ish. Sorry.
Phororhacos
11th Feb 2018, 15:26
OP, with regard to the UK CAA only what you are possibly looking for is this. from https://www.caa.co.uk/Aeromedical-Examiners/Medical-standards/Pilots-(EASA)/Conditions/Cardiology/Cardiovascular-system-examination/
(3) For a class 1 medical certificate, an extended cardiovascular assessment shall be completed at the first revalidation or renewal examination after age 65 and every 4 years thereafter. 2.2 The extended cardiovascular assessment should be undertaken at an AeMC or may be delegated to a cardiologist.
(Basically it involves a 4 yearly Exercise ECG and a clinical review and report by a Cardiologist).