That's not a license!
 

Something I thought when I first received my license and which was jogged by a letter I read in one of the GA mags last night - why is the CAA's PPL so rank? I sure I'm not the only one who, when that long-awaited license finally came through the post went from :O to :ugh:

A mucky brown faux plastic folder with A4 sheets from a 1970s' laser printer is not in keeping with the heroic, enigmatic and sexually alluring character that is the public perception of aviators/trix (A little overstated perhaps, but you understand my point). It doesn't look like an official license and it doesn't impress even small children.

Are there any pilots out there who are also master craftsman bookbinders, and could produce something that looks more like the £140 the CAA charge rather than a Woolworths' reject? I was thinking along the lines of a buckskin wallet, possibly in a regal dark blue with goldleaf wings and the word 'Pilot' in big letters.
Something that looks like it came from the country that produced Concorde rather than the one that produced the Austin Maestro.


(Obviously none of the above applies to people from Essex, who were probably delighted).

Who cares? It is not the size or colour that matters but the amount of fun you can have with it!

You have obviously never seen a Dutch licence? Not even a folder.

Just a 3" x 6" slip of paper with your details.

FD

Care to expand a little on that strafer?

If you don't like the brown plastic folder why don't you just go and buy a nice leather cover with gold edging from AFE or Transair? It makes it look a lot nicer... ;-)

Or just upgrade it to a Blue folder (CPL) or Green folder (ATPL)... ;-)

You've probably not seen an older FAA certificate... credit card size stiff paper with a few words on it. Still the new FAA certificates are very nice credit card plastic style with really nice designed background, (as well as the same wording).

Nice new FAA ones? I got mine this time last year, and got the cardboard :( Maybe I'll just have to report it lost :)

ps. The IAA ones are multicolored writing on a white background. Looks like a kid let loose with MS word :rolleyes:

dp

You were given an A4 licence to make it more obvious when placed on the Pub Counter.

The rest of us get by with a far smaller document.

:D

Is the CAA still issuing brown licences to PPLs?

JAR-FCL which clearly states that JAR licences shall be white.

Regards,

DFC

Yep go on Strafer, tell us why Essex pilots are delighted.

Do tell Strafer...

Strafer seems to be out the office ;)

But if you do come back, Strafer, could you also tell us how long it took to get your brown plastic? I'm asking as I'm about to send off for mine (hopefully pick up all the paperwork this Saturday). I'm kinda hoping that the summer madness has settled down, and it'll only be that '10 working days' I've read somewhere here.

Richy

Richy

A couple of mates have just got theirs back in 3 weeks.

Bar shaker

That doesn't sound too bad. Thanks.

Richy

Lordy, more replies for the throwaway comment at the end than the half-serious comments at the start.

To the Essex posters - I was simply listening to 'Billericay Dickie' in the car on the way to work. Please tell me you didn't take it seriously?!?!?

To CZ - I wasn't aware that Transair, etc did covers. I probably shan't buy one though, because there lies the rocky road to buying shirts with epaulettes, clip-on ties and a silver wings badge with 'PPL' in the middle.

To FlyingDutch - A 'Dutch license'. Would that be the same as a Dutch auction, Dutch uncle or Dutch oven?;)

I guess it's the same as the purple Euro passports. The old-style UK ones were far classier, but buying a blue cover in the airport shop is a little naff. (A bit 'Essex' if you will).

Aha, guys he got scared of you Essexers and is now picking on the Dutch!!

:yuk:

I riposte Sir, at least we still have colonies.

Wot do you have to say to that then!

FD

FD,

We do still have Wales I believe :E

[ducks]

Bijlmer?

Strafer,

Its plainly obvious, the reason the UK licence is so expensive is that the plastic wallet it came in had to be JAA approved which took months of expensive research including foreign jollys to all member states to get cross acceptance.

With the FAA licence only the cardboard had to be approved by some guy sat in an office in Oklahoma, hence why is was free :D

Julian.

Strafer,

You are naughty!

FD

Yes but little you realise. This great nation of inovation, technology and common sense, that stands out among the lower euro trash. Can't even print the naff paper with ink that stays on. Just leave your licence in its lovely plastic sleeves for a few months and then when you take the paper out to add something to it. You find the print transferred to the clear sleeve. What a mess, and a joke for the money it would take to do it properly.
:rolleyes:

Strafer,

But the brown plastic wallet design was there before JAR-FCL came into force. lol ;)

You JAA guys have it easy on the wallet, before JAA the PPL cost more to have issued with the same brown folder... £201 I paid for mine. Mind you it is valid for life so have no 5 yearly renewal fee the JAA PPL's have associated with them. :)

> With the FAA licence only the cardboard had to be approved
> by some guy sat in an office in Oklahoma, hence why is was
> free

The new FAA certificates are free...

Oh dublinpilot asked if they can have theirs replaced with the new version. Take a look at http://faa.broaddaylight.com/faa/FAQ_35_173.shtm, it'll cost ya $2.

The new style FAA certificate came in on the 31st July.

Best wishes

Charlie Zulu.

I do not care if it is Shi:mad: e brown i want mine NOW!!!!

Only 2 weeks so far but surely thats enough time to fire up a printer and lick a stamp!!! Oh and rob me of my money?:(