Ramp Checked:eek:

[MTOP_set]

You may laminate -
From AOPA's site I believe
look for "000411_interpretation"

A letter from Donald Byrne, Assistant Chief Counsel, Regulations Division (FAA) to James Knight II, Aviation Technical Specialist, AOPA.

Make sure you sign it first

 

[Freight Dog]

Been ramped flying 135 on 4 different occasions. It consisted of nothing more than checking your weight and balance, your license and medical, etc.

Under 121, I've been ramped... nothing more than "license and medical" and then when he jots down the numbers... "thanks guys, see ya"
I've had a fed in the jumpseat twice. Same thing, no big deal...

As for the myth of "DO NOT GIVE THE FED YOUR LICENSE, HE'LL KEEP IT." That's a crock. They cannot by law. You have to sign documents that you are giving up your license of your free will understanding that you have to retest for all the certificates should you want them back, or something to that effect. So don't make yourself look like an a$$ by refusing to "give" the fed your license.

Also, I have my license laminated, and never had any complaints. Like someone said.. be sure to sign it before you laminate it.

 

[Starcheck]

I've flying for 22 years and been ramped dozens of times. In all the cases except one the Fed was completely professional, and courtious. They've got a job to do, and if you're professional, courtious, open and forthcoming with right answers it makes their job, and your life easier.

As with any large group of people there will be some that are moralistic priggs (no that's not misspelled) determined to make sure everyone toes the line an follows the letter of the law (their interpretation). All you can do in that case is the yessir, nosir dance, and tell your cheif pilot about it, let him deal with it.

 

[Captain Over]

Mine wasn't so much a ramp check as it was a office desk check.
I was sitting at the desk in our flight school when the inspector(the one who did my CFI) poked his head in the door and ask if I had flown today. I said yes and he said "great, I'm doing ramp checks". He was having a hard time finding anyone that had flown that day(GA, at least). He asked for certificate and medical. Wrote down some info, talked a little about the new engine he was putting in his Mooney(I had flown with him in his plane before), said thanks and left.

We do have one FAA plick(a little Japanese-English lingo) here on the field that we avoid. He ramped a student on his first solo...

 

[RJones]

Ramped

Like "Starcheck" I've been ramped a bunch...when the FAA see's an Mu-2 they just gotta ramp check ya.

For the most part they have been professional. I was flying an old "J" model Mu-2 once where the fuel sumps on the tips wouldn't stop dripping fuel, I mean dripping. I pulled into Indy one night and I got ramped. Now it's quite obvious the fuels dripping, however, the FAA guy looked at the fuel dripping as we walked by, climbed into the plane, wanted to see the company manual revision number, my certificates, and then asked; "hows the plane running for ya?" "fine" I said, and he split.

Another time I pulled into Burke Lakefront and got ramped and this FAA guy came totally un-glued. Wanted to see this, accused me of breaking this and that regulation. I asked to see his credentials and he refused, I pressed him until he pulled them out and flahsed them at me, finally I looked at him and said; "I take my lunch break this time every night, if you find anything wrong I'll be inside" and I walked away, he was stunned. When I came out to launch he was gone.

For the most part they've been easy to get along with.

RJ

 

[JediNein]

Being completely ignorant of things MU-2, leaking fuel sumps are usually a piece of debris caught in the seal. In piston products, rapid opening and closing the valve with the fuel tester usually fixes the problem. Otherwise it can be a miserable repair job depending on the type of fuel tanks.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[kilomike]

I never have been ramped as a general aviation pilot. However when I flew for a 135 operator, I was ramped once. It was a license and medical thing. Once again, when I was with a 121 it also was a license and medical thing and the inspector spent more time with the captain since she was a maintenance inspector. Neither time stood out much in my memory, so it took a minute for me to remember whether I'd been ramped. Wish more Feds were as unremarkable as these were.

fly safe,
kilomike

 

[waka]

cl-65link

This is why a GA Fed should stick to airplanes with reciprocating engines and let the 121/135 Feds handle the "big" airplanes.

Just a small point of order;

There are still reciprocating engined aircraft being operated under 135 and 121 (DC-3's, Convairs etc.)

 

[LR25]

Been ramped twice in 13 years.

Once 135, once 121.

I also have been "Ramped" once as a mechanic when I used to work for a scumbag 121 freighter.

It was on a DC-8, all he came up with is that I had a screw missing out of an engine pylon. I'm thinking thinking, yea right. I could have closed my eyes and come up with more than that.

This guy didnt know what he was even looking at.

LR25

 

[Vrefus]

Been ramped four times in the last two months. Never a problem. Certificate is laminated, they never said a word about it. Never have sweated one either, as long as everything is in order.