Skills test: was frustrations, now PASSED.
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basically stating that they'll allow me to do the test there, but they will not organise an examinor or plane as it would be illegal, and the examiner has to be organised by my current club
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Thank you all for your advice on this - I'm pleased to say that all the ducks lined up yesterday and I managed to get through the test successfully!!
It wasn't a pleasant experience - three hours in a glass canopy'd Robin in 30+ degress, having to go to another airfield to pick up fuel first (don't ask!), differences in what the CFI expected and what I'd been taught, poor vis whilst navigating through an area I hadn't flown in before, zero wind so poor performance from the plane both in terms of power and short field performance... I think I'm still suffering from sunstroke but it's starting to sink in now!!
I don't suppose there is any way to expedite the license from the CAA? Having read a few other threads, it would appear that all you can do is phone in to check they're working on it, and maybe go and collect it rather than waiting for the post?
It wasn't a pleasant experience - three hours in a glass canopy'd Robin in 30+ degress, having to go to another airfield to pick up fuel first (don't ask!), differences in what the CFI expected and what I'd been taught, poor vis whilst navigating through an area I hadn't flown in before, zero wind so poor performance from the plane both in terms of power and short field performance... I think I'm still suffering from sunstroke but it's starting to sink in now!!
I don't suppose there is any way to expedite the license from the CAA? Having read a few other threads, it would appear that all you can do is phone in to check they're working on it, and maybe go and collect it rather than waiting for the post?
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The return delivery is by courier anyway so I doubt picking it up (even if it was possible) is likely to save much time.
Many congratulations, and it sounds like you got a major learning experience from the skills test, which is great - even if it didn't feel like that at the time.
Now the real fun, and the real learning, begins !
G
Now the real fun, and the real learning, begins !
G
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Thanks G 
In all honesty it was hell, I got out the plane afterwards stressed, dehydrated and mentally exhausted, but no doubt I learnt a lot from it too!!
Can't wait to get going now!
In all honesty it was hell, I got out the plane afterwards stressed, dehydrated and mentally exhausted, but no doubt I learnt a lot from it too!! Can't wait to get going now!
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You can get the license on the same day if you're prepared to attend the CAA offices at Gatwick. You have to queue up in the morning to drop off and are allocated a slot later the same day to collect. Slots are first come first served so worth getting there early. When I revalidated my PPL they let me drop off and then collect from security that night after the office had closed so I managed to get back to work for the afternoon 
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Congratulations. I took my paperwork into the CAA and paid the fee (£191 including courier postage) and it took about three weeks for it to come back. I see no point in phoning in regularly. I waited a couple of weeks before doing so and it was ready to be signed.
I understand your comment about lack of wind. Did a quick circuit on Monday and was far too fast on approach for the nil wind. One of my worst landings in months.
Happy flying.
I understand your comment about lack of wind. Did a quick circuit on Monday and was far too fast on approach for the nil wind. One of my worst landings in months.
Happy flying.
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You can get the license on the same day if you're prepared to attend the CAA offices at Gatwick. You have to queue up in the morning to drop off and are allocated a slot later the same day to collect. Slots are first come first served so worth getting there early. When I revalidated my PPL they let me drop off and then collect from security that night after the office had closed so I managed to get back to work for the afternoon
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Congratulations Ds3
I found the skills test a huge ordeal too, and it took a few weeks to recover from it!
I took my paperwork to Gatwick in person the day after my skills test (be there well before 0830 though as the slots get taken up very quickly) and handed over my documentation and fee. Two weeks to the day, I received a phone call to say it was ready for collection. I don't think there is any way of making it any quicker than this.
I understand that whilst waiting for a licence to be issued, you can still fly under your instructor's licence privileges.
I found the skills test a huge ordeal too, and it took a few weeks to recover from it!
I took my paperwork to Gatwick in person the day after my skills test (be there well before 0830 though as the slots get taken up very quickly) and handed over my documentation and fee. Two weeks to the day, I received a phone call to say it was ready for collection. I don't think there is any way of making it any quicker than this.
I understand that whilst waiting for a licence to be issued, you can still fly under your instructor's licence privileges.
Last edited by I Love Flying; 26th Jul 2012 at 12:40.
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waiting for caa licence
You can fly solo while waiting for the actual licence and return of your log book. But you have to be seen off by an instructor from your licensed training school. Log book, when it finally arrives, is completed using P1S (pilot in command under supervision) same as you put in the entry when you successfully completed your GST
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Congrats, excellent job. I had to wait for a month to get mine done and it was excruciating.
Er, you'll probably get quite a lot of that from now on !
poor vis whilst navigating through an area I hadn't flown in before
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Thanks Yes excruciating is an appropriate word, and it isn't over yet as I still haven't got the paperwork from my club to send off to the CAA as the CFI is too busy. I'm guessing they don't want me back as a repeat customer!
Yes excruciating is an appropriate word, and it isn't over yet as I still haven't got the paperwork from my club to send off to the CAA as the CFI is too busy. I'm guessing they don't want me back as a repeat customer!
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Licence issue time
Well done, it's a massive deal and I don't think anyone flies a perfect test for the whole time of the test. It's human to fuddle some bits, but what they're looking for is that you're safe - you recognise the mistake in time and fix it.
Re CAA issue times, it took my CPL initial issue around 2.5 weeks (then another 3 days chasing the courier, but that wasn't the CAA's fault). Bear in mind that the guys there are pretty stretched with resources trying to work out EASA, plus lots of people are trying to get tickets before the "change" including PPL, IMC, CPL etc. Chasing them doesn't make it any better.
The best advice I have for you now is to go through your forms with a fine toothed comb to make sure everything is correct and as it should be. Go through your log book and make sure your adding up is correct (when I transferred to digital I discovered I was an hour short on my required solo time for initial licence issue). Definitely make sure your payment form is filled out in full. Then photocopy the whole lot, including every page of your logbook. If anything were to get lost, it's irreplaceable.
Then send it off, or deliver it, go out and have a few drinks to celebrate and enjoy watching some sport on the telly. Or, if you have to fly, take a ride in something you've never flown before - try aerobatics, or vintage Tiger Moth, or something modern and sleek - there's a whole range of flying out there to try. This will keep your bum in the air and will be valuable experience even if not log-able, so won't be wasted effort. Plus you might find out more about what might interest you for your future flying. Before you know it, your ticket will be back.
Re CAA issue times, it took my CPL initial issue around 2.5 weeks (then another 3 days chasing the courier, but that wasn't the CAA's fault). Bear in mind that the guys there are pretty stretched with resources trying to work out EASA, plus lots of people are trying to get tickets before the "change" including PPL, IMC, CPL etc. Chasing them doesn't make it any better.
The best advice I have for you now is to go through your forms with a fine toothed comb to make sure everything is correct and as it should be. Go through your log book and make sure your adding up is correct (when I transferred to digital I discovered I was an hour short on my required solo time for initial licence issue). Definitely make sure your payment form is filled out in full. Then photocopy the whole lot, including every page of your logbook. If anything were to get lost, it's irreplaceable.
Then send it off, or deliver it, go out and have a few drinks to celebrate and enjoy watching some sport on the telly. Or, if you have to fly, take a ride in something you've never flown before - try aerobatics, or vintage Tiger Moth, or something modern and sleek - there's a whole range of flying out there to try. This will keep your bum in the air and will be valuable experience even if not log-able, so won't be wasted effort. Plus you might find out more about what might interest you for your future flying. Before you know it, your ticket will be back.
Last edited by taybird; 30th Jul 2012 at 21:16. Reason: Typo correction
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You can fly solo while waiting for the actual licence and return of your log book. But you have to be seen off by an instructor from your licensed training school. Log book, when it finally arrives, is completed using P1S (pilot in command under supervision) same as you put in the entry when you successfully completed your GST
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P1S is what my flying schools training officer said I had to put in the log book as my solo flights were undertaken under "supervision". So thought it was correct.
This is absolutely basic stuff... I think you should name and shame!
Last edited by stevelup; 30th Jul 2012 at 21:07.