CPL Test Conditions
Why do it if it's not fun?
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My opinion:
From the examiner's point of view, it needs to be safe and legal, the student needs to be happy, and the examiner has to be reasonably confident that he'll be able to assess the student's ability.
From the instructor's or student's point of view, it depends very much on the individual. If an individual has had x-winds almost every day on his entire course, then he might be happy to go right up to the demonstrated x-wind (or even higher, if there's no legal x-wind limit, although most ops manuals will give the demonstrated x-wind as a school limit anyway). On the other hand, a student who hasn't had a chance to experience x-winds might be wiser to cancel a test on a day with x-winds. And exactly the same applies to poor vis, low cloudbase, etc etc.
As an instructor I'll certainly do my best to train students up to the limits of what is safe and legal. But I can't guarantee that a particular student will experience poor conditions on his course.....
FFF
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From the examiner's point of view, it needs to be safe and legal, the student needs to be happy, and the examiner has to be reasonably confident that he'll be able to assess the student's ability.
From the instructor's or student's point of view, it depends very much on the individual. If an individual has had x-winds almost every day on his entire course, then he might be happy to go right up to the demonstrated x-wind (or even higher, if there's no legal x-wind limit, although most ops manuals will give the demonstrated x-wind as a school limit anyway). On the other hand, a student who hasn't had a chance to experience x-winds might be wiser to cancel a test on a day with x-winds. And exactly the same applies to poor vis, low cloudbase, etc etc.
As an instructor I'll certainly do my best to train students up to the limits of what is safe and legal. But I can't guarantee that a particular student will experience poor conditions on his course.....
FFF
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Last edited by FlyingForFun; 28th Jul 2012 at 22:56.
Sorry for the thread drift.
But a note of caution for anyone at the CPL skills stage, the CAA have informed me that they no longer have the flexibility to provide an extension period for the skills test due to European legistration should you exceed your exams to test limitation period regardless of the situation.
But a note of caution for anyone at the CPL skills stage, the CAA have informed me that they no longer have the flexibility to provide an extension period for the skills test due to European legistration should you exceed your exams to test limitation period regardless of the situation.
your exams to test limitation period regardless of the situation.
Whopity
What I was referring to is the three year time limitation from the end of the month in which you passed your last CPL theory exam to the date of your skills test. In the past there was a possibility of an extension due to certain circumstances but this flexibility is no longer available due to EASA legistration. If you want I can pm you a copy of the CAA email that states this.
What I was referring to is the three year time limitation from the end of the month in which you passed your last CPL theory exam to the date of your skills test. In the past there was a possibility of an extension due to certain circumstances but this flexibility is no longer available due to EASA legistration. If you want I can pm you a copy of the CAA email that states this.
the three year time limitation from the end of the month in which you passed your last CPL theory exam to the date of your skills test
FCL025
(c) Validity period
(1) The successful completion of the theoretical knowledge examinations will be valid:
(ii) for the issue of a commercial pilot licence or instrument rating (IR), for a period of 36 months;
(1) The successful completion of the theoretical knowledge examinations will be valid:
(ii) for the issue of a commercial pilot licence or instrument rating (IR), for a period of 36 months;
FCL.030 Practical skill test
(a) Before a skill test for the issue of a licence, rating or certificate is taken, the applicant shall have passed the required theoretical knowledge examination, except in the case of applicants undergoing a course of integrated flying training.
In any case, the theoretical knowledge instruction shall always have been completed before the skill tests are taken.
(a) Before a skill test for the issue of a licence, rating or certificate is taken, the applicant shall have passed the required theoretical knowledge examination, except in the case of applicants undergoing a course of integrated flying training.
In any case, the theoretical knowledge instruction shall always have been completed before the skill tests are taken.
It won't stop you having to retake the exams but the following statement is fundamentally inaccurate:
the CAA have informed me that they no longer have the flexibility to provide an extension period for the skills test
Last edited by Whopity; 30th Jul 2012 at 08:24.
Hi Whopity
I think I understand what your getting at but as you say the end result is more or less the the same in that one would have to resit the exams if the skills test is not undertaken within the three year period.
Thanks for the clarification.
I think I understand what your getting at but as you say the end result is more or less the the same in that one would have to resit the exams if the skills test is not undertaken within the three year period.
Thanks for the clarification.
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As an instructor I'll certainly do my best to train students up to the limits of what is safe and legal. But I can't guarantee that a particular student will experience poor conditions on his course.....
Why do it if it's not fun?
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CPL Test Conditions
Fair point, foxmoth. But remember the BE76, one of the common aircraft used for CPL, has a higher demonstrated x-wind than many single-engine aircraft - more than double that for a C152 - and therefore higher than many clubs will allow PPL hirers to fly in. So it might be unreasonable to expect someone to test in x-winds near that limit if they haven't practiced that on their CPL course.
Also, the general principle extends to the IR (thread creep, I know - sorry) where students learn things they haven't practiced in hour-building. It's very common for students to do a lot of flying in winds of, say, 20G30, 30 degrees from runway direction, and these students would probably be happy to test in similar windy, bumpy conditions. Other students may not encounter more than 10kt wind on their entire IR (the sim doesn't count!), and would not want to test in these conditions, having never seen how the bumpy weather and updrafts affects the ILS. The point is it depends on the student, and on the student's experiences, both before, and especially during, the course - as well as several other factors. There is no black and white answer to the question of what is suitable weather for a test.
FFF
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Also, the general principle extends to the IR (thread creep, I know - sorry) where students learn things they haven't practiced in hour-building. It's very common for students to do a lot of flying in winds of, say, 20G30, 30 degrees from runway direction, and these students would probably be happy to test in similar windy, bumpy conditions. Other students may not encounter more than 10kt wind on their entire IR (the sim doesn't count!), and would not want to test in these conditions, having never seen how the bumpy weather and updrafts affects the ILS. The point is it depends on the student, and on the student's experiences, both before, and especially during, the course - as well as several other factors. There is no black and white answer to the question of what is suitable weather for a test.
FFF
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