Microlighters

Spot the error . . . .
Collecting my licence from RAASA this week I noticed that my licence number is not printed on all the pages, rendering the process open to possible abuse, and surely, technically speaking, rendering this an 'illegal' license! The license number should be on the bottom left corner but has been truncated by the printer.

The fact that half the pages do not have the license number printed on it surely opens the doors for the swopping of pages or possibly even adding other pages with false information.

Speaking to RAASA staff I was informed that "there as nothing they can do about it"! REALLY?? Clearly you are not pilots!

I then tried to escalate to the CEO, Neil de Lange, who after two days could not spare me the time to call back. Eventually I spoke to Willem in operations, who committed to look into it, but in the process politely reminded me that "we are not their members" and that they are not beholden to us in any way !!! Well, perhaps you are right Willem, but when someone takes the trouble to highlight a significant shortcoming in your processes, I would expect a degree more politeness!

I have since logged a RAASA Hazardous Practice Report! Perhaps this will get some fire into someone and get the problem fixed!

Hi John,

Strange problem... I checked mine and I have my License No printed on every page.... but I do not think it is great cause for concern as the barcode is visible on each page not so?...I cant think that some missing text would render the licence invalid?

Not much response here so far but is there anyone else who has the same issue? You have allready logged a complaint but please let me know if you are still not satisfied with the response and I will take up the matter with them through Misasa.

Just a question John...is this your first issue? Surely not? Why only valid for a year?

Bundy wrote:Hi John,

Strange problem... I checked mine and I have my License No printed on every page.... but I do not think it is great cause for concern as the barcode is visible on each page not so?...I cant think that some missing text would render the licence invalid?

Not much response here so far but is there anyone else who has the same issue? You have allready logged a complaint but please let me know if you are still not satisfied with the response and I will take up the matter with them through Misasa.

Just a question John...is this your first issue? Surely not? Why only valid for a year?

Hi Alan,

No, second issue. How long should MPLs be valid for? Is it not annual renewal??

Cheers, John

John your first issue after qualifying is valid for 12 months...thereafter it is valid for 2 years.

Looks like there is more than one error there mate.

Let's see what the response is here, I'd like to know if there are others...but you need to queiry the validation dates too!

Bundy wrote:John your first issue after qualifying is valid for 12 months...thereafter it is valid for 2 years.

John.com wrote:

Bundy wrote:John your first issue after qualifying is valid for 12 months...thereafter it is valid for 2 years.

RAASA: "Sorry. We made a mistake. We will fix it and reprint it"

How do you think RAASA will respond to a claim for milage and my time wasted?

Thanks Alan, I appreciate the vigilance on your part!

John.com wrote:
Thanks Alan, I appreciate the vigilance on your part!

No prob....but you owe me a beer...I just saved you R1000 next year!

(only joking bud)

I sincerely hope there are no others out there.

Sh!t happens...just bad luck I guess.

Bundy wrote:Sh!t happens...just bad luck I guess.

Agreed, but it's how the provider of the sh!t service RESPONDS is what can make or break the day!

I have experienced MANY situations in which bad service was quickly corrected by a pleasant and helpful response. Sadly to say this was most certainly not the case here!

You'll certainly get your beer Mr. Bundy. I will make a sincere effort to meet you before the lights go out on 2013.

Thanks again!

John.com

thanks for the heads up ill certainly check my license -- when i get it...

Bundy wrote:... but I do not think it is great cause for concern as the barcode is visible on each page not so?...I cant think that some missing text would render the licence invalid?

Hi Alan,

Just on this note . . . . firstly, the 'bar-code' (more like a QR-code) has been truncated, so I am not sure if it is even 'legible' by a code-reader. That's not to suggest that a ramp inspector would be carrying a CAA/RAASA bar-code reader with them!
Secondly, I would imagine that any ramp inspector worth his salt would flip straight to the page which I posted in my first post, i.e. the types/categories against which you are licensed to fly, and to check TYPE/CATEGORY and then your LICENSE # . . . . which I suspect would then be followed wiff, "Sir, diss here license is illegal . . . . please switch off, step outside and follow me"!

I see the problem thanks John.

I do still question however whether this would invalidate the licence?

I will send a mail to Willem and ask him to clarify this here on the thread once and for all.

It seems (with no other responses) that this was simply a miss print in your case?

Let's give Raasa some time to respond.

Now that John mentioend it, I checked and I have the same problem from page 3 onwards. My dates are correct. If I am not mistaken the law states somewhere, "as endorsed in the logbook" so I think t=it does not make you immediately illegal but I guess it's open to interpretation by the inspector and therin lies the problem. Personally I do not think any of the local inspectors will be unreasonable, but you never know when flying cross border....

Hi Guys,

Following my mail to Willem and Niel this morning, I recieved a message from Niel (unfortunately could not answer at the time) saying he had replied to my mail. Willem called me later to discuss the matter and having now read the response and conversed with Willem I can now state the following.

Yes, there has been a printing issue with regards to some of the licenses that have been issued.

Does this invalidate your licence? Absolutely not. None of the issues raised here will invalidate your licence.

Willem has asked me to convey to you all, Raasa's request to please go check your Licences and contact them if you have experienced this kind of printing error so that they can re issue the documentation. RAASA has rectified the issue with their IT guys and CAA (paper supplier) so it should not happen again.

I trust this will put the issue to bed?

I apologise for the misunderstanding between you at the staff there John, I have always had a good and helpful response from our Recreational Authority in my communications with them.

So there you have it...dont stress, your NPL's are valid despite the printing errors...go fly... and Raasa will post you a replacement if you report it.

Nice weekend to you all.

(PS john I dont like the weather report you posted for tommorow!...please edit it and tell the wind to go away.)

Bundy wrote:Hi Guys,

Following my mail to Willem and Niel this morning, I recieved a message from Niel (unfortunately could not answer at the time) saying he had replied to my mail. Willem called me later to discuss the matter and having now read the response and conversed with Willem I can now state the following.

Yes, there has been a printing issue with regards to some of the licenses that have been issued.

Does this invalidate your licence? Absolutely not. None of the issues raised here will invalidate your licence.

Willem has asked me to convey to you all, Raasa's request to please go check your Licences and contact them if you have experienced this kind of printing error so that they can re issue the documentation. RAASA has rectified the issue with their IT guys and CAA (paper supplier) so it should not happen again.

I trust this will put the issue to bed?

I apologise for the misunderstanding between you at the staff there John, I have always had a good and helpful response from our Recreational Authority in my communications with them.

So there you have it...dont stress, your NPL's are valid despite the printing errors...go fly... and Raasa will post you a replacement if you report it.

Nice weekend to you all.

(PS john I dont like the weather report you posted for tommorow!...please edit it and tell the wind to go away.)

Thanks for the follow up and feedback Alan! Much appreciated!

As for the weather . . . . it's flyable, just a little chills! Put on that w!lly warmer and get out there!

Cheers,

John.com