# 1,000,000 and other boring stuff

[pelmet]

Talked to TC about licensing today. Did my medical in early August, they got the file in October. The doctor there hasn't looked at it yet so I actually could be technically invalidated by the higher ups well over three months after being signed off to fly.

Anyways, the lady says that they are now up into the 830 series of license numbers so it looks like 1,000,000 will be coming up someday soon. Different regions get a series of numbers so you might want to start harassing your regional office soon to reserve your number if you are thinking of becoming a student pilot. Won't work you say, maybe just try to time it exactly right then.

[jschnurr]

I got my number about 10 years ago. It starts with 810. If the numbers are issued sequentially, 1,000,000 will be available sometime in 2096... or later if there is a pilot shortage

[DaveC]

Won't be for awhile I don't think.

I got mine last year and I was a 827.

[Shiny Side Up]

The first number denotes usually what area the number was issued in, I know one issued in B.C. start with a 3 and those in Alberta are still being issued with a 4.

Pas necessairement, mon ami. I got my licence in BC in the 90's, and it starts with a 4....

[KK7]

TC File numbers (your licence number) are different depending on region where the initial application went in. While I was getting my file number at 7xxxxx someone else was getting 8xxxxx, and someone else was getting 4xxxxx, the three of us were coming from different regions.

[oldtimer]

Ask Cat Driver what his number is. I will bet it is a very early one. Mine started 055.

[costermonger]

Speaking of how they're issued, my number starts with 808 and I've had it since late 2000. I'm currently working with an IFR student who has an 807, but it was issued to him in 2009.

Do they re-issue file numbers? I know there have been a few different formats used over the years and regions differ somewhat, but until this particular case I thought they were being issued more or less sequentially.

[straightpilot]

Mine started 055

My father's "new" six digit file number starts with 035.
Generally, any number starting with a zero is probable
cause for yanking your medical - Transport doesn't like
old pilots to commit aviation.

The current six digit numbering system is fairly recent - my
father's original licence number from 1950 was YZC8907
only 4 digits. I think that meant ontario region, commercial,
number 8907.

It was only a few years ago that everyone was re-issued
new licences, where your six-digit file number was your
licence number, preceded by a single letter: P, C or A.

Then a couple years back they re-issued all the licences
again, with two letters in front of your file number, to
reflect both licence and category.

Then last year they came up with the idea of licence
booklets with photos that expire every 5 years. Wonderful.

It used to be that private, commercial, senior commercial and
airline transport rating all had different max aircraft weights on
them, on the old green licences. All that's gone, of course.

I remember Transport chasing around a doctor who was flying
a twin over 4,000 lbs on his private licence, which at the time
was a horrible sin. Burn in hell. You had to have a commercial
pilot's licence to act as PIC of an aircraft over 4,000 lbs, IIRC.

What silliness.

[Beefitarian]

The first number denotes usually what area the number was issued in, I know one issued in B.C. start with a 3 and those in Alberta are still being issued with a 4.

Pas necessairement, mon ami. I got my licence in BC in the 90's, and it starts with a 4....

Maybe you got that backwards my Alberta issued licence starts with 3.

[sakism]

Maybe you got that backwards my Alberta issued licence starts with 3.

Is Alberta where your Student Pilot Permit was issued?

Maybe the Authorized Person who signed your SPP had relocated from BC to AB and brought his stack of SPPs with him.

[Beefitarian]

I got everything but my night rating at The Calgary Flying Club.

[Shiny Side Up]

Since your TC number is going to be issued when you get your medical, it depends on what office your doctor deals with.

edit: also if you got your license prior to when they changed the system you would have kept your old number. I assume you had at one time the license before they issued the green ones Beef?

[Beefitarian]

Ah good question. My ppl was 1995.

[iflyforpie]

Yes, I've seen lots of 'newer' pilots than me with 4 series license numbers from Alberta. I got my (5802)-793XXX number when I applied for my first AME exam.

I still have my grandfather's pilot's license (white with the diagonal stripe through) at it was VRP-9897. VR for YVR, the regional office, P for Private pilot. Seen a lot of VRM and XDM AME license numbers in the logbooks over the years...

[fingersmac]

I got my initial medical in Montreal in 2005 and my file number (license/medical) starts with 126XXX.

[BigglesNBella]

Initial medical was in BC in 2006 and mine starts with 501

[Nark]

Im somewhat behind the curve.
Did the pilot license numbers change with the new passport book?


I got my certificate in 1999 in BC and it's a 789XXX number. I haven't looked at the TC medical in a while. Didnt realize it had a number on it.

[Louis]

I got my initial medical in 2002 in Chicoutimi and my licence has a 900XXX number

Nark: from what I've seen the licence numbers don't change but the booklets have their own number, one letter and six digits.

[Tim]

mine starts with 417 and was issued in 2000 in nova scotia, so seems like theres more to it then just geography.

[bcflyer]

Mine was issued in Ont in 91 and starts with a 3. Definitely more to it than geography.

[PT6-114A]

Got mine in BC around 1990 and it starts 404