FAA finally proposing Pilot Certificate photos

MikeD

MikeD

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Didn't see this otherwise posted. Too bad they didn't do this coinciding with the paper to plastic transition...

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday a proposal to include pilots' photographs on their pilot licenses -- something that was required by law in 2004 but has yet to be enacted.

The announcement comes one month after Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, criticized the agency for dragging its feet, noting that the only picture on the current FAA license is that of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
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http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-18/...bitt-pilot-licenses-new-licenses?_s=PM:TRAVEL
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Every time you buy fuel, which I would venture to say, is nearly every time one flies an airplane in training.
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I was under the impression those taxes weren't directly assessed by the FAA. My point being that it isn't like we are out there paying for every individual service.
 
It would be easy for those of us in CASS. They could just use the CASS pictures to print the ID's. I'm suprised they haven't gone to some smart card type ID like the FSDO employees use. Heck while were at lets just make the pilots the ATP license a SIDA ID too. I am so sick of fighting with morons on the ramp tell me I have to have an ID or an escort to walk to/from or around my plane.
 
Codyjp said:
I was under the impression those taxes weren't directly assessed by the FAA. My point being that it isn't like we are out there paying for every individual service.
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Very true. I'm on both sides of the issue with this one. One, I don't think putting the picture on the certificate does anything for security. On the other hand, I don't think its unreasonable to have to a small fee to have the certificate, much like a drivers license.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Very true. I'm on both sides of the issue with this one. One, I don't think putting the picture on the certificate does anything for security. On the other hand, I don't think its unreasonable to have to a small fee to have the certificate, much like a drivers license.
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I don't remember paying any money to get my license renewed in CA? But I do remember for some reason having to give the lady in FL some money for it when I went to the county tax collector to get my license there. But the FAA collects taxes on our fuel right? And they just raised the fee to take a written test.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Very true. I'm on both sides of the issue with this one. One, I don't think putting the picture on the certificate does anything for security. On the other hand, I don't think its unreasonable to have to a small fee to have the certificate, much like a drivers license.
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Careful what you wish for. With government, once there is a fee to cover the cost of something, it is easy to raise the fee and essentially make it a tax.

Airman certificates are good for life right now. Slippery slope, once there is a picture and fee, not long before it is $200 every year... Don't say I didn't warn you.

And let's not kid ourselves, a picture does zero for security. 121 the company ID and SIDA are all that matter. For the rest of us, no one is usually looking at IDs anyway.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
Careful what you wish for. With government, once there is a fee to cover the cost of something, it is easy to raise the fee and essentially make it a tax.

Airman certificates are good for life right now. Slippery slope, once there is a picture and fee, not long before it is $200 every year... Don't say I didn't warn you.
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Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that. But at some point, the pilot group as a whole has to realize that we only have so much political power in the grand scheme of things. Better to pick the battles to fight than to fight them all, and then get told that we "never compromise." Personally, I'd rather see people fight against the 100LL phaseout and TSA screening for GA airplanes. Pick your battles wisely, IMO.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that. But at some point, the pilot group as a whole has to realize that we only have so much political power in the grand scheme of things. Better to pick the battles to fight than to fight them all, and then get told that we "never compromise." Personally, I'd rather see people fight against the 100LL phaseout and TSA screening for GA airplanes. Pick your battles wisely, IMO.
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Not aware of any "battle" over pictures on airman certificates right now, but we all obviously pay EAA/AOPA/ALPA etc to fight crap like this. You know, our special interest lobbyists.
 
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