Ski's Flying Blog - November 2005
last updated 02 Mar 06
This blog is an ongoing account of my flying career. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily represent those of Cabair, BCUC or OFT.
23 Nov 05 - Human Performance & Limitations Exam
Having missed the original HP&L exam due to laser surgery, myself & Nabeel travelled to Denham airfield to take the 2nd allocated exam (each subject has 3 exams for our course to take. If someone fails it 3 times - or misses some, or all - then Cabair apparently have to send off at great cost for more). The subject matter was fairly easy, and to prove it, Nabeel and I only dropped 2 questions between us. All is good.
Two things really stood out from the HP&L syllabus for me. One: if you fly with a bad cold (so that the inner of your ear cannot equalise pressure with the outside atmosphere) then your eardrum will blow due to the pressure difference aloft. Thus if you fly bunged up, you could go deaf and lose your medical, and therefore your flying career.
Two: the method of calculating the rate at which alcohol is removed from the bloodstream. Most useful for working out when you should sensibly stop drinking the night before flying lessons!
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LASIK surgery, in my experience (all one times so far) is not the most
relaxing way to spend a morning. However, you do get a hell of a buzz once it's
over! I was probably not the best travelling companion on the way into London,
however my good friend Coco made sure I was plied with much hot chocolate in
order to calm my nerves. Didn't really help, but it was good chocolate, and the
thought was there. Talking to the other patients in the waiting room helped an
awful lot to get me to relax. The entire operation took a total of 20 minutes at most, and the staff were
reassuring (both in the appearance of competence and manner). The process
consists of: anasthetic to numb the eye, a small cut made on the eyeball to
produce a flap, which is flipped over to expose the lens. The laser then fires
for around 30 seconds. The flap is flipped back. That's it. For the next week
you have to take eyedrops to allow the eye to heal properly, but that's all
there is too it - I travelled home 15 minutes later, and my vision was
sufficient to allow reading by that evening. However, the actual experience of the operation highlighted the little
details; the smell of burning! as the laser fired, the pressure of the cutting
device (and the noise and vibration) upon your eyeball, looking into the laser
as it fires, and the patter of noises and calm conversation in the
background. It did produce the results though, the operation went
without a hitch, and I can expect good results when I have the followup check
next February (NB. Speaking later: It didn't produce the results though! See here
). And
I felt very relieved and happy on the way home. 09 Nov 05 - Local Training Flight from
Denham - Straight & Level Flight
This slot fell during
reading week, so as Virun had gone home, I was able to have a flight all to
myself. This also happened to be my first flight with Seji. The lesson plan dictated straight & level flight to be
taught. Ok, I thought, how difficult can that be. Little did I know. Seji made
sure I followed the manta "Power, Attitude, Trim", that is- check your power
settings (to maintain the required altitude) adjust your attitude with the
control column (to maintain the required airspeed) and trim (to reduce pilot
workload and fatigue). It was satisfiying when I managed to get the aircraft
flying at the speed I wanted, at the altitude I wanted, and it wouldn't wander
off even if I took my hands off the yoke. Until Seji untrimmed everything so I
could practise it again! Back to top
07 Nov 05 - Laser Surgery
Consultation
Due to the fact I have an astigmatism
in my left eye (plus an eye muscle imbalance), I was denied a Class 1 medical
from the CAA, thus preventing me from qualifiying above PPL level. However! all
was not lost, as I was told LASIK surgery could reduce the refraction error to
acceptable levels. This should, in theory, allow me to apply for a Class 1
medical with a deviation. I hope. It remains to be seen in any case. The people at Moorfields Eye Hospital told
me that yes, the procedure would not be a problem, and the CAA medical standards
could be met. Furthermore, when the specialist I saw had examined me, he
contacted his friend in the CAA, who told him that if I was to have the surgery,
barring no further problems I should be able to gain a Class 1! Excellent! Been
waiting for that particular piece of good news since May, when the CAA told me
I'd never get a Class 1. I just hope they stick to the optomist's opinion now.