I'm taking the group aircraft over to France in a couple of weeks and I was wondering if to comply with the Air Navigation Order Schedule 11 I must take the originals of the Certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness and the radio licence or will copies suffice.
Last time I went over the channel was about 10 years ago in a PFA aircraft and we did take copies but things are much stricter nowadays.
Has anybody had any trouble with the French authorities regarding this.

Cheers

Nick

Never been asked for anything by the French. Not even a passport. In fact I have never been asked for anything in any of the European countries visited so far. I guess some of the "newer" EEC countries may be a little hottet on paperwork.

We go to France most weekends during the "season" for fresh supplies of cheese and lobster!

I always carry a copy of the relevant documents just in case.

I've never had anything, not even a passport, looked at in France or Spain, but I carry everything incl the VAT invoice in the boot. Is there a requirement to carry originals?? I don't think so.

Exactly what I said in a thread when this came up about a year ago.

Since then I've been thoroughly checked twice in France. The first time was in an N-reg Cirrus in Carcassone. This was while US-French tension was fairly high so I wasn't entirely surprised, but the officials wanted to see everything, especially VAT paperwork. That kept us going for a while since the aircraft is of course owned by a US trust, had had VAT paid in The Netherlands and was based in the UK.

The second time was more of a surprise. I was about to depart from the charming and somewhat sleepy airfield at Arras first thing on a Sunday morning in my G-reg microlight when three Douaniers emerged from behind the hangar and asked for all of the aircraft's and my own documents. Except VAT - the famous "2Donkeys Conjecture" on this point remains valid as far as I know.

In short, I'd take the original paperwork, since it removes one more excuse to delay you if you happen upon a real jobsworth.

I've only been checked twice in about 30 visits to France over the last couple of years, but if I hadn't had everything they wanted each time it could have thoroughly spoilt my day.

The ANO requires that certain documents must be carried. I believe that the only reasonable interpretation of that requirement is that the original documents, and not copies, must be carried.

Dont think so. CAA told me to copy and laminate which I do in my own aircraft. In the aircraft I rent I have never been given the originals.

As long as you can provide the information then I don't see why a copy isn't good enough?

I was ramp-checked at Le Touquet last year by a single French ’air police’ officer. All the paperwork carried for a G Reg. PFA Permit aircraft were copies, including insurance, radio licence etc.

I did have my licence and medical with me (originals).

Some of my stuff, Certificate of Validity etc., was out of date, as I didn't have copies of the latest ones with me. The guy was happy enough with what I had and seemed pleased to find someone who tried to speak to him in French, even if it was very basic French.

Suggest purchase or sight of April 2004 issue of Pilot magazine. Good article called Paperchase - pages 44 to 49. Deals with all you will need to know regarding documents.

Suggest a review of this URL

Le bon voyage et le vol sūr

Read "Paperchase" in pilot and do take the originals

Tony R

Definitely take originals, and don't forget your copy of the interception signals, it may save being shot down!

Thanks for all that everybody. I think I'll err on the side of caution and try and root out those originals. I did read the Pilot article but nothing definate in there about copies or originals.

Nick

I fly outside UK a lot.

Checklist item:
Original of documents carried: check
Intercption proc: check
VAT papers: check

I am happy when I can say only check to all these above things.