Jim Logajan writes:

Mxsmanic wrote:
If the unlicensed pilot is wealthy enough to pay the fines, what
prevents him from flying indefinitely without a license and just
paying the fines whenever he is caught?

Flying without a certificate/license can and has resulted in jail time.
Here are a couple cases where the defendant got a fine and six months jail
time:

http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1004
http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1633

I note that both involved other offenses as well, however.

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