Producing a Pilot License.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Reading all the discussion surounding the different requirements around the world to aquire a pilot license got me to wondering how often we are asked to produce our Pilot license.. .. .I have been flying internationally for over forty years and only " ONCE " was I asked to produce my license outside my own country. God only knows how many times I have filled out a Gen. Dec. and produced visas. overflight permits, landing permits etc. but there was only one time I was asked to show my license.. .. .That was in Brasilia while filing a flight plan within Brazil and the bureaucrat noticed the airplanes permit for flying in Brazilian airspace had expired. That of course was a lead up to the usual shakedown for money and resulted in a complete examination of all documents for the airplane and crew to see what else they could extort out of us.. .. .One thing I must comment on is I actually prefeer the third world method of doing things. All you need is an agreement on how much cash the approval for what ever it is you want to do is worth, money passes hands and presto we get things done. . .. .In the so called first world countries the bureauracrats are well paid and very well protected so they can just scr*w you at their leisure. Yep! give me some poor official in Africa or some other poor country and I can deal with him with no problem. Far better system than ours.. .. .Now I want to confess all you Pprunners I am at heart a mercenary and hold so called " Officials " in utter contempt.. .. .Bribery, extortion and Government corruption works far better when you can deal one on one and get it done. Experience will soon teach you how much they will accept so you don't get scr*wed to badly. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .Anyhow enough of my Politically incorrect thoughts. Anyone want to comment on how often we are asked to produce our licenses?. .. ..................... . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Mister Geezer]

Interesting topic. I have been asked for my licence on a few occasions when I have flown privately in order to get through security. To be very honest a licence on its own is like getting me to show a stranger my birth certificate and convince him/her that my name is actually the name on the document! Security personnel have to assume that what they are seeing is in fact a legal document which belongs to the person who is presenting it! It is a JAA requirement to carry photo ID with your licence but I feel that the picture should be on the licence like it used to be back in the past.. .. .Duplicating a CAA or a JAA licence is far too easy in my view. I knew someone who had recently been awarded his ATPL so his old CPL book was no longer relevant and he passed this onto a well known friend who is a PPL. He managed to experiment a bit and by using a simple PC and a scanner, he made himself a spoof CPL/IR for a laugh. Now I must stress that this was done as a bit of laugh and the person concerned would never use this spoof licence for any malicious purpose but shows how if a simple empty licence cover falls into the wrong hands, then that person could fabricate a licence and potentially have airside access at civil aerodromes.. .. .Some food for thought in these ultra security sensitive times that we are now in!. .. .MG

[AMEX]

Two months ago in Libreville and a little bit over a year in Manchester but that one was by security guards so...

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Cat Driver,. .. .I have been flying both for the Airlines and for pleasure to the Bahamas for over 12 years. I have never been asked to show my pilot licenses. I have not been out of the country as PIC since prior to Sept 11, 2001 so I cannot say how closely they check now. I am willing to bet they go through all your licenses and the aircraft documentation when returning to the U.S.. .. .As for the Bahamas, there used to be all kinds of fees when flying out of there. All transactions were done in cash and they never made it into the cash drawer. It was up to the Customs and Immigration Officers whether you were paying time and a half for overtime or double time for overtime. This did not mean it was after hours, they would charge you a 11 a.m. on a Saturday this overtime fee.. .. .I spent time with Greg Rolle from the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism to generate the Private Pilot's Bill of Rights. If any private pilot is being charged any extra fees while entering or leaving the Bahamas, all they have to do if show a copy of that paper and the fees are waved. It works like magic.. .. .Now if we could only do the same thing with the rest of the world.. .. .Take Care,. .. .Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.. .Naples Air Center, Inc.