ARE RAMP CHECKS RAMPING UP?

Does anyone have firsthand experience with increased ramp check
frequency?



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AOPA ePilot Volume 8, Issue 3 January 20, 2006
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ARE RAMP CHECKS RAMPING UP?
There has been an increasing number of calls lately to the AOPA Pilot
Information Center from members who have been "ramp checked." So
should you be concerned? "Nobody likes being ramp checked, but the
regulations do allow FAA inspectors to do it at their discretion,"
said Woody Cahall, AOPA vice president of aviation services. "But a
ramp check doesn't have to be particularly painful if you understand
the rules and exercise some common sense." An FAA inspector may decide
to check you and your aircraft because he's observed something unsafe,
or it may simply be a random check. You can expect that an inspector
will show you his identification and ask to see your pilot and medical
certificates. "Think about how you would react to a police officer and
a traffic stop," said Cahall. "When he says, 'license and
registration, please,'" you know that a polite response and a
cooperative attitude goes a long way toward minimizing any hassles."
The regulations require that your pilot and medical certificates be
readily available and you should be willing to show them. The
inspector can examine your certificates, but he can't keep them. If
he asks you to "surrender" your certificates, politely decline and
contact an aviation attorney (
http://www.aopa.org/info/certified/lsp.html ).
For more information, see AOPA Online's subject report "Ramp Checks"
( http://www.aopa.org/members/files/topics/rmpcheck.html ). Pilots
should also consider AOPA's Legal Services Plan should they need an
attorney to represent them against an FAA enforcement action.