Leaving the N reg aside for a moment.
We are much more security consious now.
However, there is nothing stopping any person flying and basing any private aircraft from another ICAO country in the UK for an extended period without any system for the CAA or DFT being informed.
Better still from a security (or lack of it) point of view, any person can produce a piece of paper stating ICAO pilot licence from some far flung State to a flying club and hire one of their aircraft.
How many flying club CFIs can tell what a pilot licence issued by say Afghanistan looks like? The holder is entitled to fly G registered aircraft without having to ask the CAA!!
Of course being able to fly G registered aircraft on an Afganistan licence means that there is access to airside at all airports.
Hello?
I can't drive a car in the UK for more than 1 year without obtaining a UK driving licence (no test - simply provide foreign licence)..........so how is it that I can fly UK aeroplanes for ever on some dodgy piece of paper that the CFI has no way of knowing if I produced it on my computer at home or not?
Gaping security hole to me which I am sure the CAA and the DFT would like to close.
Regards,
DFC