ATX PLT OF AN SMT TWIN FAILED TO FOLLOW TWR INSTRUCTIONS TO EXTEND BASE DURING A CIRCLING APCH FOR AN FAA CHK RIDE.

Narrative

FAA CHARTER CHKRIDE. THE EXAMINER CAN'T HEAR DUE TO HEARING PROB; BUT HE IS ACTING AS SAFETY PLT. I WAS DOING A CIRCLING MANEUVER AND ATC TOLD ME TO EXTEND DOWNWIND; THEY WOULD CALL MY BASE. THE EXAMINER DIDN'T HEAR THAT INSTRUCTION AND INSISTED ON ME COMPLYING WITH CIRCLING MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM RWY; SO I COMPLIED WITH HIS INSTRUCTION AND SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT TO HIS ATTN I WAS TO EXTEND DOWNWIND. A MIL T37 HAD TO SIDE-STEP ME CAUSING HIM A PROB. I HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN BY THE FAA IN LUBBOCK FOR THIS CHK RIDE 4 TIMES DUE TO EXAMINER EITHER BEING UNAVAILABLE OR NOT HAVING A CURRENT MEDICAL. NOW I GET THE CHK RIDE SCHEDULED AND MY EXAMINER ISN'T WEARING HIS HEARING AID AND PUTS EAR PLUGS IN. I FEEL CHEATED BY A SYS THAT ALLOWS THE CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR EXAMINERS WHO CAN'T GET MEDICALS OR SCHEDULE FLTS ON TIME. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON US OUT HERE WITHOUT RECOURSE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE WAS NOT BLAMING THE FAA EXAMINER FOR HIS MISTAKE OF TURNING BASE TOO EARLY; SINCE THE INSPECTOR HAD ONLY QUESTIONED THE CIRCLING APCH CRITERIA AT THE TIME OF HIS DECISION TO TURN. HE DOES BELIEVE THAT THE FAA SHOULD NOT HAVE INSPECTORS WITH HEARING AIDS DOING CHK RIDES. HE DOES REALIZE THAT THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF FAA INSPECTORS TO HAVE CHK RIDES ON A SHORT NOTICE.