Imagine you're preflighting your
airplane when a stranger walks up, introduces himself as an FAA safety
inspector, and asks to "see your paperwork." Nervous? You don't have
to be. A little preparation can help you understand your rights and obligations
and ensure that the meeting ends well.
During a typical general aviation
ramp check, you, as the pilot in command, will be asked to provide your pilot
certificate, medical certificate, and specific aircraft documentation,
including the registration and airworthiness certificates. Knowing where to
find these documents, and making them easily accessible, can reduce your
stress.
The inspector may also ask to see the
aircraft operating handbook, weight and balance information, and minimum
equipment list and aeronautical charts where applicable. Under specific
circumstances, set out in the Ramp Check
subject report from the AOPA Pilot Information Center, he may also ask to
see your pilot logbook. If these criteria don't apply to you, don't offer your
pilot logs. In fact, it's a good idea to leave them at home to avoid loss.
The inspector can also look at your
seat belts, check your VOR, check your ELT battery, and inspect the outside of
the aircraft and look in the windows for any safety or airworthiness concerns.
So it's a good idea to be familiar with the quirks and blemishes of any
aircraft you fly, particularly if it's an older bird with signs of wear and
tear. To learn more about the difference between the normal signs of aging and
potential trouble, take the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's online course Aging Aircraft.
Always be courteous and cooperative
during a ramp check, but don't volunteer more information than necessary since
anything you say can be used against you in the event of an enforcement action.
And don't surrender your pilot certificate, logbooks, or other paperwork. The
inspector is authorized to review them, not take them.
October 25, 2007