ASIC processing time?
 

Has anyone RECENTLY renewed their ASIC and encountered an unexpectedly long processing time? ie. > 5 weeks
I'm heading for a record breaking 6 weeks.
I sent via express post and even called 1 week later to follow up to ensure everything was correct and not short of any required documents.
No reason for the background check to be delayed on my end. Same address, no criminal convictions etc :E

It was initially sent off to Auscheck 4 days after I posted, some 5 weeks ago.
Daily phone calls return a 'it's still being processed by our checking partners'.

Expires tonight but need to fly on Thursday. Lucky that useless AVID still has 2 months on it.
Strange that I'm banned for going unescorted at the stirke of midnight yet you still have 7 days to notifiy CASA of any criminal activity.... should be a 7 days grace period for pending applications.

I'm in the same boat too mate.. 5 weeks as of tomorrow.
Called today and was told 'It's been received, but we are unable to give you a timeframe'.

5 weeks seems a hell of a long time for Auscheck in these days. Usual turnaround is about 5 working days or less.

Unfortunately the issuing body's hands are tied until the clearance comes back.

You haven't got form have you? :E

Like most of the cynics out there, I anticipated a lengthy, drawn out affair for the initial issue of my ASIC - was pleasantly surprised to receive it in the mail approximately two weeks after sending the application to them. Good service, I thought... I had heard the horror stories from when the ASIC was first introduced. (My application was in May 2012...)

Don't worry
 

Wouldn't worry about it you don't have to have one to fly

From the casa webpage ASIC FAQ:-

Q: Are pilots still allowed to fly without an ASIC?

Yes. Pilots only need to have submitted an application for an AVID or an ASIC to operate an aircraft. The application will be processed and appropriate background checks undertaken prior to the AVID or ASIC being issued to an eligible pilot.

Just go flying. You still have an ASIC and as it does not state that it is expired, who can say that it is. Go on, read your ASIC, then tell me where exactly it states that it ever expires ...

That meets CASA's requirement to fly as PIC of an aircraft. It does not satisfy the requirements of the Aviation Transport Security Act and Regs for an airport operator to allow unescorted access at a security controlled airport.

Geez CASA made a complete dogs breakfast of their issuing body program. They are the last ones who should be pedalling out advice on regulations for which they have no authority.

Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005

6.32 ASICs — period of issue and expiry

(1) Unless earlier cancelled, an ASIC expires at the end of the last
day of the month specified on it as its month of expiry.

Just because it doesn't have in big bold font "expiry" on the card, does not change the fact that if it is the first day of the next month and year after what is printed on the card. It is expired. No ifs, buts or maybes.

I renewed my expired ASIC last month with Aviation ID and it took 2 weeks from when I sent the application off to receving the new ASIC in the mail. However anyone know why my card has the 'Australian Government CASA' label on it even though it was sent to and processed by Aviation ID?

Aviation ID process the ASICs for CASA. Did you use a CASA form or Aviation ID form? I'd suggest that would be the clincher as to what was put in the discretionary info section at the bottom of the card.

Erm, there's a month and year in big print just below my ugly mug shot, so that's probably a giveaway!

Is it? I just had a quick fish through my wallet. Mastercard - clear obvious "this card expires on xx date". Drivers license - clear obvious " this card expires on" xx date. Motorboat license - clear obvious "This card expires on" xx date. ASIC card - yes I do an agree it expires, not totally thick as a plank but where does it say it? The fact also remains .... How long could you go with one expired? I work in the industry most days and mostly at "secure" airports. Mine could have expired 2 years ago, no one checks it. The hassles come about when I fail to wear fluro .....

No problems here, 3 weeks tops.

Does everything have to be in child's language for you to understand Bob?

Good luck fighting that in court.

morno

When I got my last renewal it took all of 2 weeks... I'd even submitted it 2 months out just to make sure and was a bit unhappy that my new issue would expire 2 months earlier than my previous one. Better that than being without I guess. This was October 2011.

I'd be interested to see stats on monthly demand for ASICs.... surely there'd be a nice peak at the beginning of each year when all of those cadet and degree programs kick off. And if you assume that people don't make like me and accidentally cut time off their ASIC validity by renewing too early... a demand from one year repeats itself 2 years later.

Just a thought.

evilducky,
Certainly an interesting question. Individual issuing bodies can obtain their own stats from Auscheck regarding turnaround times and data on a national level is also produced but not necessarily made public.
It is with Auscheck who collect the background checks from various sources where most delays occur. However the system is certainly a far improvement from the early days when it was a paper and post process through AFP.

In the grand scheme of things, I don't believe GA cadet programs would have a huge impact on the overall demand. I would suggest the totals would be a fairly low percentage of the numbers for industry as a whole.

I was going to apply before flying to Australia, letting them know when I'd be at the borders (4th of July) and such able to have it finalised, but thinking of the cost, till I have a job or about to do checkride/flight test, no point applying too early. It'd just eat up 1-3 months from the validity/expiry date.

evilducky, now that's stupid system. There should be period before expiry date in place, not to reduce the validity. Did you miss it by applying more than month ahead? I'm still to read some fine print on ASICs, other than CASA's website guidance for application/docs.
It's like Fi or IR ratings, if renewed within validity (last few months), would have the next period reduced by how early one got renewal/revalidation done/processed?

What's more 'fun', is that I have too many PRIMARY documents/IDs, but not that many secondary or tertiary. After some 2 months, I had reply from CLARC that I can use my PPL(A) from abroad since it got picture, but need attached translation (really??:confused:) from Spanish. I'll dig out the fax from Argentine CAA that I had for verification for USA.
nombre: Martin - > Name: Martin
piloto privado -> private pilot (and so on)

MartinCh, You are lucky on the ID front that your pilot licence has a photo. The only other one I have heard of that has a photo is South Africa. This little bit of bureaucracy alone caused a lot of problems for people wanting to to come to Australia and fly.

One other form of secondary ID that is not often used is the verifiable reference. Is there anyone in Australia that you have known for 12 months or more? If they can provide their primary and secondary documents with a statement that they have known for 12 months or more, that also works.

The validity is taken to the last day of the month, two years from the month the security clearance was issued. The best possible outcome being a clearance issued on the first of the month and therefore expiring on the last day of the month in two years time. Used to be the last day of the prevous month.:mad:

Feel free to PM me for specific advice when you come over.

YPJT,

I had photo on my Czech or Slovak National Aeroclub/microlight for paragliding or AeCR ID. Those are since expired/unused. Those are LAA/national aeroclub so not 'full blood' CAA.
The PPL(A) from Argentina is plastic CC sized ID with picture. My US FAA commercial etc don't have photo, as the regs there state carrying govt issued photo ID alongside pilot licence, but heard some plans to implement pictures in near future.
I tacked full FAA IR(A) onto Arg PPL(A) validation, planned to knock off CPL(A) single engine, but ran out of time, being busy with instrument and instructing in R22. Now it seems I shouldn't bother with complex single in USA next time over, if I have inital CPL and FI done on twins, then can do SE CPL/FI add ons without complex time, haha. But thinking of 172rg or 182rg or C210 hours that'd be handy for some fun GA flying later on (jumper dropping). Or for familiarity if I'd do only SE CPL conversion in Australia later. Without time and Gr1/2 FI job with META, no point having twin CPL I guess. Especially as I want to instruct for sake of instructing, besides heli flying, if manageable. Will see.

So far I got 3 (different countries) passports, full UK driving licence with photo (coming to think of it, I can swap it for Aussie one no hassle), Arg PPL(A), but nothing worthy with Australian address on it, obviously. I can set up bank account from the UK, though. The only person I personally know, living in Australia (and not just knwing via internet) is a guy in Brisbane I met in Scotland in 2005/6, but would rather not bother him with some paperwork if I can manage myself.

Gotcha, regarding the ASIC. Thanks for the offer.
I find it inconsistent, that CoA doesn't need ASIC/security check, but Special PIlot LIcence DOES. Which is also validation of foreign papers, yet..

Hmmm... still a bit mystified what them ASIC'c are supposed to do/stop?

Probably the comments from when they were first introduced is right - all they do is 'look' to be doing something. Forget terrorists, any half smart school kid could work out ways around not having an ASIC.

Now all we've got is more useless costly bureaucratic nonsense to attend to each year..:hmm:





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Can't you apply early and elect to have it sent out just as your old one expires? Wouldn't that save trouble?