Photos on Licences-- closer than you think!!!

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 4:23 am

News in the USA:

Senate Moves To Mandate Photos On Pilot Certificates
Legislation that would give the FAA six months to issue new pilot certificates with photo ID passed the powerful Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday and was sent to the full Senate, AOPA said last week. "AOPA has long advocated for such a move but believes that the six-month time frame for implementation is unrealistic," AOPA said in a news release. The bill would require the FAA to assign designees -- most likely aviation medical examiners -- to take official photos. "The task is still a daunting one, and our goal is to make sure that pilots don't face an inconvenience to have their pictures taken," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The bottom line is that Congress is forcing the FAA's hand on photo-ID pilot certificates, which AOPA believes will be an enhancement." The legislation would provide the FAA with $50 million to develop and implement a photo ID for pilots that is resistant to tampering, alteration and counterfeiting. It would also include biometric data or other unique identifiers to ensure authenticity.

Consider that Transport Canada marches in pretty close formation with the FAA, and whatever happens in the US follows here in short time. My personal prediction- Canadian Pilot licences will be plastic cards with photographic identification (possibly even with some sort of other biometric ID's such as a fingerprint) before October 2006. Anyone else want to leave a prediction hanging?

Apache64_ · Post by **Apache64_** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:46 am

My predicition will be by the end of January 2006.

captain_v1.0 · Post by **captain_v1.0** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:50 am

I don't know about that, I think TC is quite happy with the printed smurf-skins they issue to us at the moment. When they do I'm sure they will be able to impliment the changes for somewhere in the neighborhood of $1-2 billion.

P.S. I'm not bitter, just realistic

THis40 · Post by **THis40** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:51 am

Ya and who do you think will PAY for this?

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:57 am

EXACTLY. Think of how much we pay for our Smurfed out licenses now. Rest assured, they'll find the most expensive and inefficient way to print the licences too!

I can't even imagine where they'll find the cash for that

medby · Post by **medby** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:58 am

Tail hook · Post by **Tail hook** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:46 am

The Canadian AME lic. has had a photo for several years now that they take with a digital camera in the TC office.

skudrunner · Post by **skudrunner** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:56 am

just a quick question. Does a AME pay anual licencing fees?

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:52 pm

My big question is how are they going to get the licence photo? Does that mean every pilot will havt to visit the Regional office for a photo op or are TC inspectors going to be burdened with big bulky equipment. I cannot wait tll some axxhole clown puts a picture of his dog or his ass on the license.

ypph · Post by **ypph** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:33 am

well it has already begun here in Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (our TC) began this process about 2 months ago. They are beginning with ATPL holder first and working their way down the list. As an ATPL holder i am not sure when i get mine, maybe with the next medical renewal. Intially were told it would be at a cost of $250 to the individual pilots (get f*cked is what we tld em!!) so it is now being covered by CASA. Maybe we'll see an increase in fees somewhere down the line but who knows.

Tango01 · Post by **Tango01** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:43 am

Okay, so let's say that TC implements this new system. How many of you would pay for this? And, Can you refuse???

T01

LT · Post by LT » Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:59 am

ypph wrote: Intially were told it would be at a cost of $250 to the individual pilots (get f*cked is what we tld em!!) so it is now being covered by CASA. .

Some people over here think it'll cost $10.. <tehehe>

$250 down under, I'm telling you... $250 a year is what we'll be paying..

This shows it to be probably true

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:24 pm

oldtimer wrote:I cannot wait tll some axxhole clown puts a picture of his dog or his ass on the license.

I think it's already been done with red passes. Helloooooo Cat. You shouldn't encourage him like that oldtimer

I don't see a big problem with it. You know how you apply for a passport? Take the photo, have the back signed by your dentist or your religious minister who has known you for the last two years, certifying that, yup, it sure looks like you.

The last time Mrs. Panama Jack applied for her (non-Canadian) passport (I understand they use the same technologyfor the new Canadian passports), she submitted a normal photograph however a scan of the photo, rather than the actual photopaper item, is on the ID page of her passport including a ghost image of the same photograph. Same thing happened when she applied for the new Permanent Resident card-- they simply scan the photograph and print the image into the plastic. Technology wise, it's there, and it can all be done without treking from the boondocks to the big city.

Check out this site (they are the contractors that the Canadian Government uses for the Permanent Resident Card).:

LaserCard Systems

Hyster · Post by **Hyster** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:42 am

This is a great idea..... I am tired of showing girls at the bar my licence and have them say that its a fake or even worse not mine... it will be much more convincing with my picture on it with my 3 shinny bars glimmering...

flynbutcher · Post by **flynbutcher** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 6:29 am

don't we already have a security/ramp pass with our picture on it and the word PILOT on it. at least I do

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:52 am

Well I don't. Nor do many pilots.

Disco Stu · Post by **Disco Stu** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:08 am

Panama Jack wrote:Well I don't. Nor do many pilots.

All pilots who are based out of a major airport do!

LT · Post by LT » Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:48 am

Disco Stu wrote:
Panama Jack wrote:Well I don't. Nor do many pilots.
All pilots who are based out of a major airport do!

Which airports in Canada would that be?