Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:21 pm
#1395933
I’m filling in the SRG 1161 to apply for an IR. Page 1 is headed with the first item, which is my CAA reference number. It’s unique to me. I’ve had since my PPL was first issued. It hasn’t changed. Indeed the name suggests that it’s allocated as a reference number, presumably so that the CAA can readily set their hands upon my details. So I’m puzzled that in the block below I see that I next need to tell them, once again, what my name is, where I was born, when I was born, and what nationality I am. As if I’m likely to have changed my mind about these things. Why does each and every CAA form mindlessly demand this information, not to mention addresses and telephone numbers, when they’ve had it all before umpteen times? Do they keep no records? Have they not heard of filing systems?
Then we get to the page of supporting documentation that I have to submit with my application. First item, original logbooks, all of them. ALL of them! What, again? Why? Is there some sad gnome in Gatwick who is really going to wade through thirty-something years of my logbooks? With what conceivable purpose? After all, they were scrutinised when I obtained a CPL, then again for an FI rating and, I think, a third time for an FE authorisation. Am I likely to have suddenly sprouted a new log-book dating back to the 1980s, or the 90s? And what will they do if I have? Why on earth do they need to check all this yet again? Is there no means by which they could check this sort of historical documentation once and then record it as checked? It’s really quite extraordinary.
Further on, I find that I need to provide a certified copy of my Theory Exam results. A certified copy... Uh? These were CAA exams conducted by the CAA at a CAA exam centre. The CAA then marked them and gave me my results which I downloaded from the CAA website on CAA headed paper. But now apparently I have to provide the CAA with these same results, certifying them as correct as I do so! Who exactly is going to certify them, and what are they certifying? It’s bizarre.
What’s the matter with these people? Grrrr.
Then we get to the page of supporting documentation that I have to submit with my application. First item, original logbooks, all of them. ALL of them! What, again? Why? Is there some sad gnome in Gatwick who is really going to wade through thirty-something years of my logbooks? With what conceivable purpose? After all, they were scrutinised when I obtained a CPL, then again for an FI rating and, I think, a third time for an FE authorisation. Am I likely to have suddenly sprouted a new log-book dating back to the 1980s, or the 90s? And what will they do if I have? Why on earth do they need to check all this yet again? Is there no means by which they could check this sort of historical documentation once and then record it as checked? It’s really quite extraordinary.
Further on, I find that I need to provide a certified copy of my Theory Exam results. A certified copy... Uh? These were CAA exams conducted by the CAA at a CAA exam centre. The CAA then marked them and gave me my results which I downloaded from the CAA website on CAA headed paper. But now apparently I have to provide the CAA with these same results, certifying them as correct as I do so! Who exactly is going to certify them, and what are they certifying? It’s bizarre.
What’s the matter with these people? Grrrr.