Ramp Checked!
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Ramp Checked!
I got ramped for the first time yesterday by the guys doing the 'northern sweep' in their PC12. And i have to say it was a thoroughly painless experience, no good cop bad cop, no curly questions, just a doc's check, walk round the frame, then a quick chat about...stuff all pilots chat to each other about, no prying dark undertones.
Was a bit like getting an injection...didn't much like the thought of it, but was all over before I knew it!
Another myth banished?!
Was a bit like getting an injection...didn't much like the thought of it, but was all over before I knew it!
Another myth banished?!
Was a bit like getting an injection...didn't much like the thought of it, but was all over before I knew it!
DF.
True Green Gorilla, but that assumes the checkers are competent, know their rules, interpret their rules the same way and abide by thier rules.
I had one ask to look through my nav bag.
I declined.
I had one ask to look through my nav bag.
I declined.
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
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.. go on .. tell us what was in there ?
The tutu had long gone ... last seen on the wall of a pub 
No thermals either - this was on Horn Island!
Nothing nefarious in the navbag - it was just the principle. Although there was probably an old weather forecast or an out of date ERC I had forgotten about smeared in crumbling muesli bar.
No thermals either - this was on Horn Island!
Nothing nefarious in the navbag - it was just the principle. Although there was probably an old weather forecast or an out of date ERC I had forgotten about smeared in crumbling muesli bar.
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This is where social engineering comes into practice, they make you think they are on your side... like joining a tribe, seeing similar interests, and topics, and blending with your personality, and WHAM! they get you from behind! 
Jokes, Glad to see you had a good ramp
Previous pilot must've given them morning tea
Jokes, Glad to see you had a good ramp
Previous pilot must've given them morning tea
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Ramp checks
I have only been ramped once, at Maree of all places, and I wasn't even flying that day I was just rolling drums about. 1999-2000 ish.
Gentleman was head of GA ops at Can'tBorough at the time and I remember thinking that as an auditor he wasn't much chop.
Leaving aside the fact that I wasn't flying and so notionally I wasn't the pilot, he never checked anything other than the MR and like Old Mate said (above) it ended up just a chat about the things pilots talk about.
Good thing he never checked my maps, I was doing regular repeated Maree/Lake Eyre/Birdsville/Tibooburra scenics with nowt but a Garmin 100 (with flat battery) and a shell road map of Australia.
...Where is ************ (former owner of "Heron" "Airlines"... which was niether) now anyway?
Gentleman was head of GA ops at Can'tBorough at the time and I remember thinking that as an auditor he wasn't much chop.
Leaving aside the fact that I wasn't flying and so notionally I wasn't the pilot, he never checked anything other than the MR and like Old Mate said (above) it ended up just a chat about the things pilots talk about.
Good thing he never checked my maps, I was doing regular repeated Maree/Lake Eyre/Birdsville/Tibooburra scenics with nowt but a Garmin 100 (with flat battery) and a shell road map of Australia.
...Where is ************ (former owner of "Heron" "Airlines"... which was niether) now anyway?
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Nav Bags
This may be pre-dating the Great PPRuNe Server Crash of 2001 but wasn't there a thread, started by Stallie (or at least, contributed to by him in a most amusing manner) entitled "What's in your Nav Bag?"
Join Date: May 2000
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so from the sound of it most of you would prefer jackboots, spurs and whips, and when the regulator is 'normal' you complain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh but of course you would also complain if they 'found' something and took action. of course if you are so unprofessional that you are proud to be using a road map and powerless GPS then you deserve the 'bend over' routine.
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Tubby One
Your analysis of the blatant hypocrisy in this thread is possibly missing the point.
The "Regulator" has attempted to make some media and political mileage out of this "new broom" sweeping the top end "without fear or favour" (yeah my words not quoting them).
Have you ever been a Chief Pilot or CFI?
Can you tell me WHAT a ramp check achieves (in 90% of cases) other than proving that 90% of operators/pilots can write the "right" thing on the MR and are carrying their Licence and Medical?
In my experience ramp checks (and desk audits) tend to be used when they have something on ya. If they haven't been tipped off 'bout something you get the friendly benevolent treatment described in this thread. If you are a Chieftain RPT operator and you make a habit of pulling the Tiger's tail you get (or got) a LOT more attention usually focussed very closely on the "gotchas"
Similarly a systems audit merely checks you have your paperwork in order and you have sufficient IQ points to be able to falsify 7 pieces of paper to ensure your MR over-run or your Chief Pilot's medical expiry aren't caught out.
I would also suggest that the people whinging that the regulator has no teeth are usually not, as you would suggest, the same people pullng the tail of the toothless tiger.
Have another glass of red and have a great weekend
Your analysis of the blatant hypocrisy in this thread is possibly missing the point.
The "Regulator" has attempted to make some media and political mileage out of this "new broom" sweeping the top end "without fear or favour" (yeah my words not quoting them).
Have you ever been a Chief Pilot or CFI?
Can you tell me WHAT a ramp check achieves (in 90% of cases) other than proving that 90% of operators/pilots can write the "right" thing on the MR and are carrying their Licence and Medical?
In my experience ramp checks (and desk audits) tend to be used when they have something on ya. If they haven't been tipped off 'bout something you get the friendly benevolent treatment described in this thread. If you are a Chieftain RPT operator and you make a habit of pulling the Tiger's tail you get (or got) a LOT more attention usually focussed very closely on the "gotchas"
Similarly a systems audit merely checks you have your paperwork in order and you have sufficient IQ points to be able to falsify 7 pieces of paper to ensure your MR over-run or your Chief Pilot's medical expiry aren't caught out.
I would also suggest that the people whinging that the regulator has no teeth are usually not, as you would suggest, the same people pullng the tail of the toothless tiger.
Have another glass of red and have a great weekend
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Where is ***** Heron
Try Airtex - de fuehrer took him over (4 whatever reason) quite some years ago - I think he (***) still tries to maintain a harem - (legend in his own lunch box!)
but they r still doing (or were) tours around the traps.
but they r still doing (or were) tours around the traps.
With some CASA FOIs the Request for Corrective Action book is like a Gurkhas dagger, once drawn blood must be spilled. Some of them WILL find something, even if it's a faded exit sign. 
Is my tax being spent wisely with Casa swanning around in a PC12?
How much is that costing.
Shouldn't they experience the real world like most they are ramping in airframes that are 70's vintage?
How much is that costing.
Shouldn't they experience the real world like most they are ramping in airframes that are 70's vintage?