TC approves new licence format

Transport Canada (TC) Personnel Licencing received final approval in early June to proceed with a plan to replace existing pilot and ATC licences with a new style licence document.

TC had long ago identified the current paper licences are far from ideal. As government documents they do not provide good security and have no photograph of the holder associated with them.

Furthermore, they require a separate medical certificate to validate them. In the case of commercial pilots, additional pieces of paper to validate the licence are also required, such as Pilot Proficiency Check cards.

TC managers decided that the new licence format must include secure photo identification along with a means of showing all licences held, medical certificates including renewal stamps, PPCs etc, in one document.

The best way of accomplishing this goal was to create a multi-page booklet-format document that resembles a passport.

In fact the new licence will be printed by the same company that produces the current Canadian passports. It will be the same size, shape and made of the same paper as the Canadian passport.

The commonality with the passport results in a significant cost savings over any other format. The new licences will be issued to existing licence holders at no cost and will include the new language proficiency rating.

Pilots and ATC licence holders will be required to provide a photograph for the identification page of the licence. This may either be a current passport photo, with a guarantor’s signature or a photo taken at a Transport Canada office.

Pilots and controllers applying for new licences will continue to pay the existing fee for licence issue.

The new licence will be valid for five years. The previous licence was valid indefinitely, but the presence of a photograph on any government identification requires a valid term of no more than five years. This means you will need a new photo and licence every five years.

The new licence format has some distinct advantages to pilots. It will provide a secure licence that will combine all needed personal aviation documents into one booklet and is easy to carry.

And the secure photograph should make identifying yourself at airports easier.

Existing licence holders should receive a notice from TC in the near future asking them to provide a photograph and giving instructions on how to do that.

The new licences should be in the mail to existing licence holders some time in mid-2007.

Because the format for licences is not specified in the CARs, TC has no requirement to consult with industry on licence format, although they have kept COPA and other associations informed as the new format has been developed.