FAA Ramp check

[astjp2]

Has anyone had an FAA ramp check in the last few years? Or even in the last decade?

I am not worrying about getting a ramp check soon, since I am not even at an airport. There are only 3 PMI inspectors in the northern 2/3's of Alaska, and they are focused on 135 operators....

Just food for thought for those worry warts out there...Tim

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Around here they nail guys at Saturday Morning Fly-ins, occasionally. If I'm headed to a fly-in... I double check my
paperwork before I go. The Fed's also like to check when they have their own plane readying for something like a facilities check. Sometimes seeing a powder blue and white bird on the ramp is a tip-off. Actually, I've been ramped checked twice and thought the FAA inspector to be rather good about it, all things considered. I'm just a pilot/aircraft owner-- most complaints I hear are from IAs/facilities/radio shops and the like. Which given that I'm a customer of these businesses... I appreciate the FAA doing their jobs.

With regards; ED OBRIEN

[matsuthunder200]

Re: FAA Ramp check

I did have a ramp check on floats here a few years ago. it was on tutna lake in western alaska. It was during hunting season. tutna lake is about 60 miles from any town. It went real well I was supprised that i had everyyhing they asked for.

[fearofpavement]

Re: FAA Ramp check

I have been ramp checked once in a bit over 30 years of flying. And that was by the Illinois State Police. All the other "opportunities" I was able to avoid by not being available. They may have been there "to help" but I chose to use my time in other ways like going for lunch early or whatever...

[Vasey fan]

Re: FAA Ramp check

In 29 years of aviating I've been ramped twice. The second time was the best (the first guy was a Crusader), it was a well liked old timer from the FSDO that worked at Boeing during WW2. He drove up in his car and asked "Is that your airplane?" I replied in the affirmative and he said, "I'm going to lunch, when I get back I'm gonna ramp it". I guess my lack of alarm was enough to satisfy him, when he came back we just BS'd about getting Field Approvals.

They don't make 'em like that anymore.

[1938BF50]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Other than the paper....what CAN a ramp-check entail?

[astjp2]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Physical inspection for conformity of the TCDS....Tim

[fearofpavement]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Other than the paper....what CAN a ramp-check entail?

Well, it is primarily paperwork as we all know that is what makes an aircraft safe to fly. They would also be looking for fuel tanks installed in the cabin (better have the paperwork with you for that!) and anything else that looks unairworthy. I have never heard of an in depth mechanical inspection as part of a ramp check and logbooks are not required to be carried.

Regarding the paperwork, they would like to see that the proper documents are on board and displayed properly. they will likely want to see your pilot's certificate and a medical that is in date for the type of operation you are doing at the time. They will also be looking for proper load manifests if you are other than a part 91 operation. If they are ornery that day they may start looking at the fine details like dates on charts, etc.

[PT13Pilot]

Re: FAA Ramp check

I got ramped in the Stearman 2 years ago when I flew it to St Louis, and we pretty much just BS'ed about the airplane, but I did have everything clearly visable. We used to get visited all the time in St Louis at a flight school/shop where I used to work, mainly because we were close to their office.
Definately have your required paperwork in the airplane. And the usual general condition of the airplane. Also, anything they can walk up an see, like fuel tank placards (grade and quantity), and they love to throw a fit about compass correction cards. If you don't have one, buy one, fill it out, stick in next to your compass somewhere. They just care that it's there. It's usually not that big a deal for us little airplane guys.
CJ

[Acroeric]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Knowledge is power so it is always good to read the FAA's procedures and know them as well as they do. Here is an article I found accurate

http://www.bestaviation.net/art_ramp_check_dos_and_donts.asp

It should be no big deal. Ramp checks at fly-ins should be VERY RARE. They are not supposed to do them at events like that.

[wadeclavin]

Re: FAA Ramp check

If your airplane or other requirements aren't up to snuff for them will they ground you, or fine you, or throw you in prison?

[astjp2]

Re: FAA Ramp check

The FAA can ground you and take your certificates on the spot. They have no enforcement agency so they cannot take your home, airplane or send you to prision. As I learned in A&P school, they can also tell you that they are going to fine you $xxxx.xx and you can say that you are not going to pay it and the only way for them to collect is to take you to federal court and try to win a lawsuit....that is why they have such a hard time collecting on monetary fines for some of those unapproved parts guys that were in Floriday a decade ago, the FAA fined the sellers and never collected a cent...Tim

[flyguy]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Thanks for the reference Eric. IMHO it looks like good information and advice. Anyone else read it and have comments, favorable or otherwise. I've been flying since 74 and have never seen a FAA guy except at the FSDO.
DC

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: FAA Ramp check

Here's an article about a ramp check gone real bad:

http://www.swaviator.com/html/issueD99J00/legal.html

Through the NTSB Office of Inspector General there are arrest powers inside the FAA. BUT NOT FOR A STANDARD RAMP CHECK VIOLATION. Usually these guys are after folks selling substandard & phony-cerified aircraft parts --bad dudes out to kill people -- stuff like that.

Fines and paperwork for pilots to straighten things out are another story. I've also reported on an FAA inspector having a pilot arrested who appeared drunk at the scene of an airplane accident. BUT, I think the arresting officer was a local cop and a simple blood alcohol arrest was made.

I once had a gear up --(no one hurt, thank god) the FAA inspector 2-3 hours after the incident showed up at my hotel. I think he just wanted to see that I wasn't drunk myself. He politely asked that I report to his office the following day for a debriefing. I found him professional and helpful in resolving the matter and putting it behind me. After-all it was my fault entirely.

That said, ramp checks are straight forward, usually done by the book, and not a complicated thing.. at least in my experience. Regarding another issue. I was once ramped checked at a fly in... but now that I think about it... the inspector was there looking at the airshow pilots and I got caught in the line of examinees. I can't tell you the policy issue regarding this matter, but I can report that I passed his quick "look see" and on the inspector went with other duties. In 30 years of flying I've never seen a stinker at the FAA, even when I've done something wrong. That's not to say there isn't a goofball in that bucket... BUT, I've never met him.
With regards; ED OBRIEN

[alwaysoar]

Re: FAA Ramp check

I've been ramp checked twice in 45 years if you count a surprise CFI checkride. Both times the FAA guys were very polite and professional. I cannot say the same for a couple of designees I encountered who were total jerks, one who ran a well-known flight school in a city called PC in FL; the school still bears his name.