I have asked several times on this and other forums how this pass works and what are the problems with not having one. Nobody has given an answer. What to a commercial pilot trying to earn a living and stay ahead of the tax predators in Canada are the benefits of having a pass and what are the problems caused by not having one?
For example, if I do not have one does this mean:
1. I am forbidden to fly an aircraft into or out of certain Canadian airports, or
2. I am not allowed to fly at all in Canada, or
3. I am allowed to fly into certain major and supposedly secure Canadian airports from non-secure airports but another pilot with a pass will have to retrieve the plane from the secure airport because I am not allowed back on the apron once I have left it, or
4. I may fly in and out of secure airports but will have to be escorted from and to my plane by armed goons. What would be the problem with this in Canada? It is fairly normal in some countries where I operate to be met on the apron or seen off the premises by government goons with AK47s.
Where does Human Rights and the right of Canadians to earn a living at their chosen occupation in their own country come into this? Surely all Canadian citizens should be regarded as innocent until proven guilty and all Canadian citizens should have the right to work in their chosen occupation anywhere in Canada unless the authorities actually possess concrete evidence as to why they should not. Has anyone instigated a Human Rights challenge? Is Transport Canada now complying with such a basis and doing the checks with appropriate speed?
Is it now possible for an individual pilot to apply from overseas and obtain security clearance? This is what happens with legal immigrants. All the police, medical, employment, professional qualification checks, etc are done overseas before they are given permission to move to Canada. It makes sense for a Canadian pilot intending to return to Canada to obtain the TC security approval and pass before giving up his job overseas. It would be rather dumb to give up a good job overseas and move back to Canada only to find that the clearance is refused on some technicality, because certain information is simply not available, or because of a bullying TC official on a power trip.
Am I perhaps expecting too much in the way of intelligence and customer service from TC by asking if such a practical solution is available?
I will be very grateful if somebody would take the trouble to explain the full implications to a pilot of having or not having a pass.