Ramp checked!

[FasGlas]

The only ramp check I ever got was at an airport a week after an airshow I was in at that airport. I got into a discrepancy with a few FAA guys there during the show, no big deal. When I got out of my plane I saw this government Ford sneaking around the hangars looking for someone to bother. They quickly drove right over to me and hopped out of the car. The lead guy asked me for my docs. I recognized him from the week before and I told him I am considering this as retaliatory harassment and would contact my attorney. He thanked me for my time, they got into their government Ford and left. I never did show him anything. And of course my wing man fled into the restaurant the second he saw the feds coming..... He might have said "Two's out", I don't know.

I have a friend of mine get ramp checked when he pulled his plane out of his hangar and taxied it to the fuel pit. Last I recall is you don't need ANY docs to taxi an aircraft from your hangar to the fuel pit. My friend was much nicer about it than I would have been..

That's the Van Nuys FSDO for ya...

[jrs14855]

Originally Posted by TCONROY

I was ramp checked while on a quick turn in a business jet and did not permit the inspector to board the aircraft. He asked to see the aircraft docs and RVSM manual which I provided outside of the aircraft. I could tell he wasn't thrilled to have not been allowed to board but didn't give us any trouble.

I seem to recall their protocol does not allow them to delay a flight. FAA has to be very careful with this especially with the high end corporate airplanes.

[F1R]

Originally Posted by Bevan

Maybe it's just in Canada, but I thought ramp checks were a thing of the past. I seem to recall my flight instructor 22 years ago state they are seldom done anymore. The equivalent type of random check of a road motor vehicle is not acceptable to the courts. If the authority (in Canada) was to find something amiss without a valid reason to search, the charge could be thrown out. Ie lacking probable cause, profiling, carding, harassment etc. In other words there would have to be a valid reason (driving infraction, lights not working) for the police to pull you over in order to have a "legal" look inside your vehicle. Why would it be any different for a personal aircraft?

Bevan

I had a rather superficial check in CYXE (Saskatoon) not so many years ago. A TC enforcement pilot in a C550 walked across the ramp from his jet and introduced himself politely with his ID after asking a few questions about the AC I was sitting in doing up the log books for the just completed flight. The ELT and tag were clearly in view as were all the logbooks so he never even asked to handle or inspect the paper. Really just a pleasant look and hello. It can still happen.

[RV7ator]

How does one perform a VOR check if there's no VOT signal on the airport and the airplane's not airborne? Hmmm? Records which might show a 30-day accuracy check do not need to be presented. I don't recall any FAR saying the VOR receiver (let's say your GTN750) needs to be marked in-op or out of cal. It's just not legal for IFR ops.

Considering ELTs are likely to be located beneath dozens of screws in an RV, I won't lose sleep over that one.

A favorite check-off item hereabouts a few years back was having a correction card for a wet compass. Easily observed without giving permission to board. Another good reason to rip out the old and install an EFIS.

John Siebold

[dmaib]

Fifty years of flying, 19,000 hours and I have had exactly three ramp checks. The last one was about five years ago at the Sebring Light Sport Aircraft show in Florida. Team of three FSDO inspectors randomly ramp checking aircraft/pilots in the remote parking area. Friendly, courteous, and lasted no more than a few minutes. Did not ask to board the aircraft. Checked paperwork and mostly asked questions about the airplane and it's performance.

[texdog]

ALWAYS ASK TO SEE THE FAA INSPECTORS IDENTIFICATION 110A. If they don't have it do not let them close to your airplane. They have no right to be there. I had a new inspector (trainee) approach me at a fly-in at Wright Patterson AFB and I ask for his 110A and he didn't have one. I told him in a very loud voice to get away from my airplane, as far as I was concerned he was a terrorist. His supervisor was about 10 feet away and didn't know what to do. I explained the rules to the young man and showed him what the 110A looked like. End of discussion, I bet he presents his ID from now on.

[Vlad]

I had 5 checks since I started flying my RV in 2011. Two by FAA and three by other agencies. All official inspectors were very courteous and respectful. None of them were specifically looking for violations but rather for compliance. I also had two staged checks by my friends and let me tell you those may be very uncomfortable first minute till you get the joke. The most stressful was in TN in 2011 when I landed at an airport after couple passes above fellow boaters and was waiting for my pickup. A presentable official looking lady entered the grounds came to my tiedowns, flashed an ID and asked for my airplane paperwork, my pilot license and current medical. Boy I thought that was fast. I thought of calling my buddy for a legal rep but then I saw my "limo driver" exited the same vehicle and smiled. He told his mother what to ask and being a corporate pilot he knew the procedure. It was a good laugh for all night.

[KRviator]

Originally Posted by Vlad

I had 5 checks since I started flying my RV in 2011. Two by FAA and three by other agencies.

Not at all surprised there!

I haven't been ramped yet, but am expecting to at some point. The concerning thing for me is CAsA have published several iterations of their "guidance for ramp checkees" kind of flyers, and the references within those flyers are completely incorrect, either relating to CPL holders, or contradicting what the guidance material says.

But you try telling that to an FOI. You've got a better chance of winning an argument with your missus!

[erich weaver]

Originally Posted by Vlad

None of them were specifically looking for violations but rather for compliance.

Ha! That sounds like FAA speak alright.

Erich

[RV10Man]

Come April 30, 2017 I will have had my PPL 40 years. Never been ramped, got close one day. The airport manager told me where they were, I disappeared before they had a chance see me.