Originally Posted by
jumpseater
i can’t see what the issue is with more ramp checks, if the legislation is sufficient, then surely more ramp checks will enable that legislation to be enforced. Im Not sure what you mean by dealing with it ourselves, if you mean talking to a ‘grey operator’ what power do ‘you/we’ have to prevent the operation taking place? If current law isn’t being enforced by the authorities, any discussions with an operator are likely to be unproductive. If the regulators raise the profile with thorough ramp inspections, and subsequent enforcement/prosecutions for transgressions, surely that’s the way forward. I know some of our local UK police, their resources are already stretched to a microscopic thin blue line. They’re highly unlikely to be able to provide an adequate response and investigation to a call regarding a grey charter. The CAA have the legal instruments to really tackle this issue, but they need to take effective action.
A short study of aircraft movements and a few discreet questions around problem airfields would soon identify the grey charter operators.
These operators don't just do one or two flights a year.
PPL pilots accumulating large hours between medicals would also help identify specific pilots for some gentle questions once their name pops up on a flight plan.
Proactive enforcement is not difficult.