A nationwide airfield pass?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: leicester
A nationwide airfield pass?
Does anyone else agree that there should be a CAA airfield ID pass obtained alongside CPL or similar?
The problems encountered at airfields like Harwarden and Humberside and ridiculous!
I know these people have a job to do but when they stop and search a taxi like a Baghdad security checkpoint only for us to fly out of the airfield they must be combing the place looking for us??!!!
Sometimes it can be just as bad getting airside out!
When your job involves visiting nearly all the airfields in the country (non military) it just feels like the CAA (as a value for money exercise
) could provide some sort of pass that would make entry and exit easier???!!
MADY
The problems encountered at airfields like Harwarden and Humberside and ridiculous!
I know these people have a job to do but when they stop and search a taxi like a Baghdad security checkpoint only for us to fly out of the airfield they must be combing the place looking for us??!!!
Sometimes it can be just as bad getting airside out!
When your job involves visiting nearly all the airfields in the country (non military) it just feels like the CAA (as a value for money exercise
) could provide some sort of pass that would make entry and exit easier???!!MADY
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Mrs Miggin's
Yes. It would seem logical to me that your licence would be enough to allow you access without having someone escort you everywhere. Some airfields will issue you a pass for say 6 days but if you for whatever reason need a seventh within 28 days, no chance access denied! Anyone who has operated from EGNV will know what I mean, I always find the inconsistencies between one airport and another particularly annoying. Some search some don't, Oi you can't walk there, but you can walk there once you've past the imaginary line!
Anyone who has operated from EGNV will know what I mean, I always find the inconsistencies between one airport and another particularly annoying. Some search some don't, Oi you can't walk there, but you can walk there once you've past the imaginary line!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: England & Scotland
I did enjoy the humberside treatment recently.
Landed en route for fuel. Was met at the reporting point and told to go around the building to the other door (squeeze between the vehicle barrier and the wall) to report in. After that, metal detector and x-ray my stuff to get back airside to return
Landed en route for fuel. Was met at the reporting point and told to go around the building to the other door (squeeze between the vehicle barrier and the wall) to report in. After that, metal detector and x-ray my stuff to get back airside to return
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,411
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Be careful what you wish for 
We have the ASIC (Aviation Security Identification Card) here in Australia, which is a bit of a poison chalice. Many airports now see themselves as arbiters of aviation security excellence and have enforcement as a mandatory imposition on all and sundry. There are airports with half a dozen movements a week which will refuse you access back to your aircraft unless you have an ASIC, and woe betide you if you dare to cross swords with the self appointed enforcers
It is also a major PITA for student pilots, since they have to get an ASIC to get to their aircraft, but security checks (with Federal and State police) can take 4-8 weeks, during which time they have to twiddle thumbs and wait
Plus the $200+ cost of renewal every 2 years
We have the ASIC (Aviation Security Identification Card) here in Australia, which is a bit of a poison chalice. Many airports now see themselves as arbiters of aviation security excellence and have enforcement as a mandatory imposition on all and sundry. There are airports with half a dozen movements a week which will refuse you access back to your aircraft unless you have an ASIC, and woe betide you if you dare to cross swords with the self appointed enforcers
It is also a major PITA for student pilots, since they have to get an ASIC to get to their aircraft, but security checks (with Federal and State police) can take 4-8 weeks, during which time they have to twiddle thumbs and wait
Plus the $200+ cost of renewal every 2 years
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Land of damp and drizzle
Just so I'm clear:
Are we seriously suggesting that we ask the Campaign to add another layer of beauracracy, for which they can charge us yet another gold-plated 'admin' fee, thus making aviation even more expensive and painful?
I submit that you don't fight beauracracy with more beauracracy; if you do, you end up with the same problems you started with, only now you have more people with their hands out, telling you why you can't do something.
Are we seriously suggesting that we ask the Campaign to add another layer of beauracracy, for which they can charge us yet another gold-plated 'admin' fee, thus making aviation even more expensive and painful?
I submit that you don't fight beauracracy with more beauracracy; if you do, you end up with the same problems you started with, only now you have more people with their hands out, telling you why you can't do something.
Joined: May 2003
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From: OS SX2063
JohnR81
I have had exactly the same ludicrous experience at Humberside, I didn't even want to go airside but that's where something they needed me to do was, can't remember if it was landing fees or credit card payment or signing something but it was ludicrous. Exactly the same 'squeeze through here , now you need to be metal detected to go where we saw you come from 10 seconds ago' and that was three years ago, good to see things have improved since.
I doubt the airport managers know or care about these ridiculous things that go on, if they did you would think they'd do something about it.
ATC were nice though !
Gary
I have had exactly the same ludicrous experience at Humberside, I didn't even want to go airside but that's where something they needed me to do was, can't remember if it was landing fees or credit card payment or signing something but it was ludicrous. Exactly the same 'squeeze through here , now you need to be metal detected to go where we saw you come from 10 seconds ago' and that was three years ago, good to see things have improved since.
I doubt the airport managers know or care about these ridiculous things that go on, if they did you would think they'd do something about it.
ATC were nice though !
Gary
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: UKdom
Whats wrong with keeping your passport with your Pilots Licence?
Works for me. Never have any problems anywhere.
And when I go on holiday I can find my passport everytime as my CPL(H) is somewhat harder to lose!
Works for me. Never have any problems anywhere.
And when I go on holiday I can find my passport everytime as my CPL(H) is somewhat harder to lose!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,032
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From: OS SX2063
MB
I think the problem is more one of not being able to get back airside without much pain unless you have some kind of 'approved id'.
I've not suffered it too often but when I have it has always been with the guy who saw me walk from my aircraft past his desk and wants to stop me going back without an airside pass. I have an amusing story about a woman in a one piece lycra suit with a steel cable hanging off it and a security guard at Liverpool airport but its probably only amusing to me !
GS
I think the problem is more one of not being able to get back airside without much pain unless you have some kind of 'approved id'.
I've not suffered it too often but when I have it has always been with the guy who saw me walk from my aircraft past his desk and wants to stop me going back without an airside pass. I have an amusing story about a woman in a one piece lycra suit with a steel cable hanging off it and a security guard at Liverpool airport but its probably only amusing to me !
GS
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 413
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From: leicester
Alot of good replies here,
I have to admit that the 'Campaign against aviation' will probably use this as you say as another way to raise income... every pilot would need one and then it would quickly become a tax.
I am glad to see we are all having the same experience at Humberside... at least they're consistant!!
I am assure by colleagues though that I have Teeside Airport to look forward too. Sounds like humberside on steroids
Reference 'pilots licence and passport'. I know if i show these to the Harwarden security gate they would likley shut the window and leave the barrier closed
MADY
PS I think Sywell deserves a mention for sticking to the "No Hi Vis attitude" despite numerous visits from the campaign. Only airfield I can think of that does this
I have to admit that the 'Campaign against aviation' will probably use this as you say as another way to raise income... every pilot would need one and then it would quickly become a tax.
I am glad to see we are all having the same experience at Humberside... at least they're consistant!!
I am assure by colleagues though that I have Teeside Airport to look forward too. Sounds like humberside on steroids
Reference 'pilots licence and passport'. I know if i show these to the Harwarden security gate they would likley shut the window and leave the barrier closed
MADY
PS I think Sywell deserves a mention for sticking to the "No Hi Vis attitude" despite numerous visits from the campaign. Only airfield I can think of that does this
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,691
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From: Escrick York england
i believe the uk national identity card was going to to suffice with manchester airport one of the first users
BBC News - ID cards available to people in Greater Manchester
BBC News - ID cards available to people in Greater Manchester
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,529
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From: yorkshire uk
Think about it ...there you are in some godforsaken outpost like humberside ....you have precious little to do and get paid even less . Some guy comes in in a shiny helicopter and this is your chance to get your own back on the injustice of this life ....how sweet it must feel for him to piss you off and waste your time !!!! This is human nature . Little people , in little jobs with large hats . The simple answer is to never ever return . The worst answer is to go to another bunch of little men , in cheap suits and big rule books (caa) ....dont EVER suggest that again !!! We all know that if they organised a piss up in a brewery they would end up having only lemonade at the bar.....as for carrying your passport everywhere ....
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5
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From: UKdom
The security staff at blackpool once had to let me through with my University Student Card because my licence was under the seat of the helicopter... (it was actually at home!) I convinced them that if I wasn't the pilot of the helicopter then they would soon find out when I tried to take-off...
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: SW England
Hawarden and Humberside aren't pleasant, but they pale in comparison with Sumburgh (where there's open-but-undeclared warfare between 'security' and the pilots of one mainly-Scots airline) or, worse still, Benbecula. Much of the stuff you've been reading in CHIRP over the last year or 2 refers to aircrew experiences in those 2 places. Unutterably dreadful, both.
