Ramp Check Stories?
TLA -
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Common sense is lost. But it is not lost in the fine print. It's lost up the arse of some ego inflated power tripping underachieving oxygen thief who can't work at the coal face hence fits right in at our beloved regulator.
Some of these guys must have so much common sense up there jacksies that it's amazing they can board an a/c and get airborne.
CR.
You are close...
Common sense is lost. But it is not lost in the fine print. It's lost up the arse of some ego inflated power tripping underachieving oxygen thief who can't work at the coal face hence fits right in at our beloved regulator.
Some of these guys must have so much common sense up there jacksies that it's amazing they can board an a/c and get airborne.
CR.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I was just trying to be kind. I think CASA is like any organisation. The good ones move on and the ones that can't, don't. So a few egos end up ruining it for everyone else. Just be glad that we don't work there and cop it from both ends, unhappy managers from above and unhappy customers from below.
TLA
I was just trying to be kind. I think CASA is like any organisation. The good ones move on and the ones that can't, don't. So a few egos end up ruining it for everyone else. Just be glad that we don't work there and cop it from both ends, unhappy managers from above and unhappy customers from below.
TLA
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Are you all commercial pilots that have been ramped?? Casa can ramp private pilots too can't they... it's kinda nerve racking. I have my PPL. Passed the flight test last friday I havn't even recieved the actual license yet but the thought of being ramped is not nice. I mean what happens when they issue the tickets, do you get bad marks against your name at the casa office or what??
I've flown for 33 years, both privately and commercially, in Oz and NZ, and never been ramp checked once.
I was, however, recently caught up in a radom maintenance audit that revealed that I had inadvertently flown an aircaft (as the sole occupant on private operations) on an number of occassions in the week after a mandatory AD (rudder pedal inspection) had become due.
As soon as I realised my error, I had the AD carried out - no faults were detected. Had I realised my mistake sooner I could have fudged the Maintenance Release, and then I would not have this story to tell.
I was threatened with up to 8 years gaol and $20,000 in fines, but the matter was settled when I agreed to pay an "administrative fine" of $500.
...... but that's a whole other story.
I am sure that the Cretins Against Safe Aviation will now claim to have cleaned up the cowboy pilots in Nth Qld, in the wake if the LHR disaster!
Dr
PS: The only blemish on a 33 yr record - if you exclude the 27 June 1979, when I forgot to cancel my sarwatch.
I was, however, recently caught up in a radom maintenance audit that revealed that I had inadvertently flown an aircaft (as the sole occupant on private operations) on an number of occassions in the week after a mandatory AD (rudder pedal inspection) had become due.
As soon as I realised my error, I had the AD carried out - no faults were detected. Had I realised my mistake sooner I could have fudged the Maintenance Release, and then I would not have this story to tell.
I was threatened with up to 8 years gaol and $20,000 in fines, but the matter was settled when I agreed to pay an "administrative fine" of $500.
...... but that's a whole other story.
I am sure that the Cretins Against Safe Aviation will now claim to have cleaned up the cowboy pilots in Nth Qld, in the wake if the LHR disaster!
Dr
PS: The only blemish on a 33 yr record - if you exclude the 27 June 1979, when I forgot to cancel my sarwatch.
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 12th Oct 2007 at 08:06.
Join Date: May 2003
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Once upon a time...........
RFKB positioned a cross-hired Baron around at the company base. Unfortunately, a wing bolt AD was going to expire tommorow and would affect the next two days of flying planned for the machine.
After much ado, CASA issue an extension for the aforementioned and off I go.
Subsequent ramp check on RTB goes like:
FOI: You haven't signed your MR.
RFKB: Sorry, I seem to have dated it wrongly.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, I see the aircraft has had it's ELT removed. So, you don't have one?
RFKB: I've got a portable behind the seat.
FOI: Show it to me! (Using his best/worst bad cop voice)
RFKB: Here you go.
FOI: Your ELT battery has expired. (MAR 2003)
RFKB: Ummmmm, wouldn't that be the end of March like with AD's etc etc.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, good question. I'll look into that. (Bad cop voice now getting worse)
FOI: Where is your W & B?
RFKB: I don't have one. I'm not required to as per the company CASA approved ops. manual. I only have to be satisfied that the aircraft is within limits.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, I'll look into that too!!! (Bad cop voice now faltering)
At this point, our diplomatic friend fears he is getting snowed under with all this potential research and gives up.
Obviously that fine print says that, having an ELT battery not a day past expiry, and a W & B for two blokes in a B58 Baron; is more important than having your wings firmly attached to the aircraft. Otherwise I would have had to pull out that exemption!!!
Disclaimer: Common sense is not always that common.
After much ado, CASA issue an extension for the aforementioned and off I go.
Subsequent ramp check on RTB goes like:
FOI: You haven't signed your MR.
RFKB: Sorry, I seem to have dated it wrongly.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, I see the aircraft has had it's ELT removed. So, you don't have one?
RFKB: I've got a portable behind the seat.
FOI: Show it to me! (Using his best/worst bad cop voice)
RFKB: Here you go.
FOI: Your ELT battery has expired. (MAR 2003)
RFKB: Ummmmm, wouldn't that be the end of March like with AD's etc etc.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, good question. I'll look into that. (Bad cop voice now getting worse)
FOI: Where is your W & B?
RFKB: I don't have one. I'm not required to as per the company CASA approved ops. manual. I only have to be satisfied that the aircraft is within limits.
FOI: Hmmmmmm, I'll look into that too!!! (Bad cop voice now faltering)
At this point, our diplomatic friend fears he is getting snowed under with all this potential research and gives up.
Obviously that fine print says that, having an ELT battery not a day past expiry, and a W & B for two blokes in a B58 Baron; is more important than having your wings firmly attached to the aircraft. Otherwise I would have had to pull out that exemption!!!
Disclaimer: Common sense is not always that common.
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To Enter or Not to Enter
A recent discussion between a large NSW based charter op and CASA cleared the air (sic) about the right of a CASA FOI to enter an aircraft.
RESULT: CASA have no right to enter an aircraft without explicit permission - in my book, that would mean in writing.
RESULT: CASA have no right to enter an aircraft without explicit permission - in my book, that would mean in writing.
A good mate of mine was given the most nit-picking, exhaustive ramp-check imaginable. The first hour of which concentrated on every aspect of his aircraft's maintenance record. Only when he asked "May we go now? was he asked for his licence. Picture ancient wallet pulled from back pocket and card extracted and passed over with long drawn sigh. Only it's two cards, stuck together with something perishable. Agent Notsa Smart peels cards apart and says with disdain "This looks like an old condom!" "Yairs . . . . always keep one handy. For everytime I'm f....... up the a..... by the Gestapo. Got a fresh one on you Dick by any chance?"
Got ramped at HID a few years back. Had just returned from Gove with a plane load of pax and bags. The two tried asking me questions as I was unloading freight and tying to supervise pax as they helped unload and cart stuff to the grass next to the terminal.
I said that they were welcome to look around the outside the aircraft until I had finished supervising my passengers and their baggage on a live apron and I would not talk to them until that was finished.
Once completed, I laid out my licence, medical, MR, and pax/cargo manifest on the pilots seat and told them that the paperwork they required was on the seat. They asked to look in my navbag and I told them no, the paperwork is on the seat.
All was in order, but they ended up pinging me for an unlabelled 10000kg rating herc strap (that was identical to the other one labelled 10000kg). They were however happy for me to use it to tie down the cargo I had to transport to Cairns!
I said that they were welcome to look around the outside the aircraft until I had finished supervising my passengers and their baggage on a live apron and I would not talk to them until that was finished.
Once completed, I laid out my licence, medical, MR, and pax/cargo manifest on the pilots seat and told them that the paperwork they required was on the seat. They asked to look in my navbag and I told them no, the paperwork is on the seat.
All was in order, but they ended up pinging me for an unlabelled 10000kg rating herc strap (that was identical to the other one labelled 10000kg). They were however happy for me to use it to tie down the cargo I had to transport to Cairns!
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How to deal with pending doom...
Whilst on a stint in the Kimberley I witnessed the "proffesionals" deal with FOI's and ramp checks...
Normally the region comes under the Darwin umbrella for CASA ops but he Perth boys obviously had some funds to burn up or very little to do around the office so were subsequently seen sojurning around Broome and adjacent locales.
An RPT operator flying into Derby had gotten wind (via the VHF) that one particular FOI was stooging around waiting for them to arrive. They taxiied in to the apron, shutting down the left engine as they pulled to a stop. The airstair was lowered and their sole occupant was promptly "disembarked" before the live donk was spooled up and they very efficiently made their way back towards the runway starting up the second engine as they went!
I would love to have seen the FOI's expression (I was behind him in the terminal) as he managed to place just one foot on the tarmac before his "quarry" escaped! Apparently he had driven out from Broome for that sole purpose...
rN
Normally the region comes under the Darwin umbrella for CASA ops but he Perth boys obviously had some funds to burn up or very little to do around the office so were subsequently seen sojurning around Broome and adjacent locales.
An RPT operator flying into Derby had gotten wind (via the VHF) that one particular FOI was stooging around waiting for them to arrive. They taxiied in to the apron, shutting down the left engine as they pulled to a stop. The airstair was lowered and their sole occupant was promptly "disembarked" before the live donk was spooled up and they very efficiently made their way back towards the runway starting up the second engine as they went!
I would love to have seen the FOI's expression (I was behind him in the terminal) as he managed to place just one foot on the tarmac before his "quarry" escaped! Apparently he had driven out from Broome for that sole purpose...
rN
