Ghost pilots

[what next]

I see the learjet performed 12 flights before the accident and no one said anything.

12 flights in 2012 that were recorded by Eurocontrol. There could have been others (local VFR or VFR between small airfields like his homebase)!

But who should have said something, and on what basis? I fly bizjets too, but I know almost nothing about the types that I don't fly myself. There are quite a few single-pilot jets around, how would I know, if this type of Learjet requires two pilots? And why would I care, am I a policeman or what?

And regarding his fake license(s): As he flew to some larger airports with security gates too (LFSB, LEPA, LOWS, ESMS), I'm almost sure that he had to show his license and documents more than once. If they were good enough to fool security personnel and border police, why should anybody else become suspicious?

[N707ZS]

I will explain, it was the last Learjet 24 in Europe I personally thought it was preserved. It had been parked up for X number of years and sudenly became active. These are just a couple of things people might of noticed but obviously didn't.

[what next]

...it was the last Learjet 24 in Europe I personally thought it was preserved.

It had been stored at the museum in Altenrhein for some years, indeed!

It had been parked up for X number of years and sudenly became active. These are just a couple of things people might of noticed but obviously didn't.

There are quite a few oldtimers flying out there. Occasionally I recognise one and will say something like "haven't seen one of those for quite some time..." but this is about it. Not so long ago, I even saw a Super Constellation But did that make me suspicious of it's paperwork? Certainly not!

[aerobat77]

I recently finished some freelance flying with a British company. At no point did they ever ask to see my licence or medical.

a commercial operator ?

in germany , flying commercial, you have to be listed in the company and reported to the LBA as being employed there, also when flying freelance for this company.

this will ( should ) remove any faked licences or medicals since they will check the licence number. a rating entry into the licence is also issued only by the LBA , but a line check can be put manually by the examiner into the licence.

this applies like said only when flying commercially. freelancing private for an owner may look indeed different.

is it different in uk ?

[Fanda_2007]

I fear that the real implications of this case have not been addressed. An Iranian has been flying, pretending to be Brasilian, and floating around the Schengen area without checks - because this is what Schengen is about. What and or who was he carrying? Why did he pretend to be another national? The international security forces seem to have failed to recognise this character's movements for a long time.

[KBPsen]

The international security forces seem to have failed to recognise this character's movements for a long time.

What "International security forces"?

There are certainly some safety issues raised by this case, but I have yet to see any concerning security. You do understand the difference between safety and security?
It's a bit too tabloid to start asking a lot of hand wringing "what if" questions without knowing if it has any relevancy at all.

That he is/was using a false identity is perhaps not surprising as he apparently is wanted in several countries in connection with alleged fraud.

[cockney steve]

I TOLD him that 13 was unlucky Ah, well, Darwinism rules!