Can we fly without our physical licence in our bag?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Channel Islands
Age: 50
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can we fly without our physical licence in our bag?
Hi Everyone,
I have nearly completed my change of state of licence (SOLI) from UK CAA to the IAA to keep my EASA ATPL. Ive just been told by the IAA that my ATPL is ready for collection.
They have instructed me to send my UK licence and Medical to Dublin and they will courier my new licence to me.
My question is: Can I still fly using photocopies of my current licence and med in the meantime while i wait a possible 10-14 days for it to be delivered to me? Im sure that in the past this was not possible but cannot find any reference to it and neither the UK CAA or IAA are answering my emails.
I have nearly completed my change of state of licence (SOLI) from UK CAA to the IAA to keep my EASA ATPL. Ive just been told by the IAA that my ATPL is ready for collection.
They have instructed me to send my UK licence and Medical to Dublin and they will courier my new licence to me.
My question is: Can I still fly using photocopies of my current licence and med in the meantime while i wait a possible 10-14 days for it to be delivered to me? Im sure that in the past this was not possible but cannot find any reference to it and neither the UK CAA or IAA are answering my emails.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: IRS NAV ONLY
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FCL.045 Obligation to carry and present documents
(a) A valid licence and a valid medical certificate shall always be carried by the pilot when exercising the privileges of the licence.
(a) A valid licence and a valid medical certificate shall always be carried by the pilot when exercising the privileges of the licence.
Years ago, just after Spain became a Democracy, I was hauled into the Jerez Civil/ Military Airport Commander’s office to prove how me (a 21 year old) could fly a Piper Apache legally down the Airways from Lisbon (a refuelling stop) into his Airport. On presentation of my shiny new CPL/IR, he shut up and confiscated my 200 Rothmans on the premise that Crew weren’t allowed Duty Free. Moral of the story, always carry your actual licence with you.
I would say not. Outside of checks I’ve never been asked for my licence but Sod’s Law applies. My experience of licence changeover with IAA has been very good. Although the licence generation process was painfully slow, once I could send mine in the turnaround was very quick. Suggest don’t use Post Office - too slow. I don’t know how your roster looks but maybe choose the longest gap and hope it gets back in time. Recommend a proper courier with guaranteed delivery time (the yellow and red machine should do an overnight service).
If the licence doesn’t get back before your next duty you should probably ring in and explain that you don’t have current licence or if you feel you have reasonable managers have the discussion in advance and agree on a strategy.
Good luck
If the licence doesn’t get back before your next duty you should probably ring in and explain that you don’t have current licence or if you feel you have reasonable managers have the discussion in advance and agree on a strategy.
Good luck
Not a lawyer, but consider the following:
UK license remains valid, until exchanged. I believe that you can fly with a copy under certain circumstances.
The postal exchange is a COVID relief measure, so whether the ‘exchange’ occurs at the time of your submission, their receipt or their posting, is very much open to interpretation.
As long as you hold some evidence, this should be supported by a company statement or written in your Ops manual. Facsimiles, telexes and other approvals have always been accepted in the past, for ‘exceptional’ circumstances.
UK license remains valid, until exchanged. I believe that you can fly with a copy under certain circumstances.
The postal exchange is a COVID relief measure, so whether the ‘exchange’ occurs at the time of your submission, their receipt or their posting, is very much open to interpretation.
As long as you hold some evidence, this should be supported by a company statement or written in your Ops manual. Facsimiles, telexes and other approvals have always been accepted in the past, for ‘exceptional’ circumstances.
The very best fix, if possible, is to have your company on your side and prepared to lose you for a very short time - and it should be a very short time. With couriers both ways my exchange was about 5 days total. I take awair’s points on board.
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Wan Chai
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Speak to them, they will issue an approval to use a copy of the licence. Happened before when a passenger stole my bag from the overhead on a paxing sector. Annoying but no issues
