Anyone had a RAIC pass lately? Wait time?

[GhostRider6]

Hey!

I previously held an aircrew RAIC out west. The clearance on that RAIC was valid until 2019. I went to YUL for the RAIC " transfer" / new company.

When they printed off my pass in YUL I was surprised to see it was" escort required." I queried the access control personnel on this as I had a valid clearance. Apparently, my TC security clearance isn't valid in Eastern Canada ! They explained it could be a few months before obtaining my red pass despite having one and turning the old RAIC into YVR access control two weeks ago.

I've held Aircrew RAIC's across Western Canada and have never had this issue..if your clearance is valid you get a new red pass right away!

What the hell is the point of of a TC clearance if its not valid across CANADA!!! Also, how is it that the airports don't " talk" to eachother so to speak.

Furthermore, they won't allow you to call and check on the status of the RAIC. You need to come into the office in- person! I'm on my second trip now from Weatern Canada.

Can comeone explain this to me? What is the rationale here? Has anyone had similar issues?

[confusedalot]

Here is a story for ya.

Flew with a great guy, ex/retired RCMP on his second career. He was issued a yellow escort required pass. And this, after many many months.

Is it me, or would you figure that a national cop would have gone through all of the screening required?

Escorted by me, a humble career airplane pilot.

Go figure.....It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot. So it's not you, it's them.

True story.

[Cat Driver]

.It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot.

To lose something you first must have had it.

[photofly]

Here is a story for ya.

Flew with a great guy, ex/retired RCMP on his second career. He was issued a yellow escort required pass. And this, after many many months.

Is it me, or would you figure that a national cop would have gone through all of the screening required?

Escorted by me, a humble career airplane pilot.

Go figure.....It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot. So it's not you, it's them.

True story.

Not every policeman is upright, not even every retired policeman. Also they will have years of close contact with a lot of unsavoury characters for whom someone on the inside of a security cordon is a very valuable resource.

You, on the other hand, are far less likely to know anyone who could blackmail or bribe you nor do you have a possibly rich history of indiscretions that could be used against you.

[goingnowherefast]

.It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot.

To lose something you first must have had it.

Going one step further, how many people are just simply breaking the "security" rules in their day-to-day working duties while they wait for their RAIC pass?

[confusedalot]

.It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot.

To lose something you first must have had it.

he he he he..........wisdom has no bounds. To bad that is a rare commodity.

[confusedalot]

Here is a story for ya.

Flew with a great guy, ex/retired RCMP on his second career. He was issued a yellow escort required pass. And this, after many many months.

Is it me, or would you figure that a national cop would have gone through all of the screening required?

Escorted by me, a humble career airplane pilot.

Go figure.....It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot. So it's not you, it's them.

True story.

Not every policeman is upright, not even every retired policeman. Also they will have years of close contact with a lot of unsavoury characters for whom someone on the inside of a security cordon is a very valuable resource.


I love the ''used against you'' comment. Do something that affects an unqualified public servants sensibilities, you get screwed.

Subjective and capricious decisions from a small handful of little commissars make or break a member of the public.; They have superior and unchecked power.

yep, they lost the plot that they never had in the first place..............

You, on the other hand, are far less likely to know anyone who could blackmail or bribe you nor do you have a possibly rich history of indiscretions that could be used against you.

[confusedalot]

Here is a story for ya.

Flew with a great guy, ex/retired RCMP on his second career. He was issued a yellow escort required pass. And this, after many many months.

Is it me, or would you figure that a national cop would have gone through all of the screening required?

Escorted by me, a humble career airplane pilot.

Go figure.....It's more than just a backlog, these people have lost the plot. So it's not you, it's them.

True story.

Not every policeman is upright, not even every retired policeman. Also they will have years of close contact with a lot of unsavoury characters for whom someone on the inside of a security cordon is a very valuable resource.

You, on the other hand, are far less likely to know anyone who could blackmail or bribe you nor do you have a possibly rich history of indiscretions that could be used against you.

The likelihood is almost zero to say the least. Maybe I was a diabolical mastermind who fooled the system?

No, the system has zero idea of what they are actually doing, and zero idea of what is a real threat, and what is not a threat. The political game of showing that they are doing something is what is going on.

[photofly]

Ah, ok. I didn't realize you'd actually assessed the likelihood of his being a risk as "almost zero to say the least". That makes a huge difference. If you pass that information on to the office they'll issue his pass immediately. And if they don't they're clearly incompetent.

[confusedalot]

you win, TC is beyond reproach.

[GhostRider6]

To put it simply.. I think security's mandate is to provide the " illusion" of security to the general public.
If they are actually serious about providing security and this not true then the whole thing is a total joke.. just my honest opinion..

Aircrew are as easy target as we have the most to lose and are the least likely to protest the idiocy.. thus further perpetuating the " myth" of security.

[iflyroads]

I could start a pairing at the company hangar. Do a full 4 or 5 day pairing to many big airports and stay in the secure side without ever going through security once and be towed back to the hangar again at the end of it.

They do need to create the illusion of security as well as it helps should the odd duck come up during their background a check that they have to look further into. What is a serious joke is the backlog they are in now. With everyone hiring around the industry the wait times have gotten even longer. Wish they would hire some temporary staff or even outsource it to other companies here in Canada to help with the work load. But that's just an idea and who knows what red tape is involved around it.

[charv66]

Going on 7 months here for CYOW, still on yellow escort pass. Ridiculous.

(I have had a Provincial PI Licence for years, a Restricted Firearms Licence and a Secret Federal Govt Security Certificate valid to 2021. I also held RAIC passes uninterrupted from 1987-2004.)

--
Email from TC back on April 3rd:

Bertrand, Nina
Apr 3

to me
Hello,

I have checked your file and I can see that it is still in process. The usual processing time for Transport Security Clearances is between 3-5 months. The agencies that conduct the background checks are currently experiencing some backlog which could explain why the process is taking some time. I can also confirm that your file is up to date and no important information is missing, which means it shouldn’t be slowed down because of missing documents.

I hope this answers your question and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any more queries. You can email our general email, securityscreeningrequests/information@tc.gc.ca or call our main line 613-990-5532

Have a nice day!

Nina Bertrand
TC - Security Screening Programs - Security Screening Co-ordinator
(613) 949-4905
nina.bertrand@tc.gc.ca
Transport(s) Canada Place de Ville (ABPB)
330 Sparks Street - Room 1531 Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5
Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada

[charv66]

Received update from TC today 21.04.201: Up to 1 year delay!!!!

Bertrand, Nina
9:42 AM (1 hour ago)

to me
Hello Vincent,

I have looked into your file again and, unfortunately, it is still in process. The agencies are experiencing backlog which could explain this delay. I have seen some clearance wait up to a year sometimes, I understand that this is very long and, without a doubt, extremely inconvenient for you, but there is nothing we can really do to accelerate the process once it is with the agencies. They have their own way of conducting their checks and if we were to contact them they would not give us any information.

I understand that the situation is extremely frustrating and I wish there was something I could do to help move it along, but all I can tell you is that I can see that it is getting looked into, which means it hasn’t fallen through any cracks and we’re not forgetting about it. There also isn’t anything missing that could slow it down even more, which also helps the process.

Again, I apologize for not being much help and I hope your clearance comes through soon.

If you have any other inquiries do not hesitate to call or email us at the general line/email below on this email thread.

Have a nice day,

***I will be on leave as of Friday, April 21st 2017 at 4pm, please contact the general email securityscreeningrequests/information@tc.gc.ca in order to have your request treated in a timely matter. ***

Nina Bertrand
TC - Security Screening Programs - Security Screening Co-ordinator
(613) 949-4905
nina.bertrand@tc.gc.ca
Transport(s) Canada Place de Ville (ABPB)
330 Sparks Street - Room 1531 Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5
Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada

[Black_Tusk]

I just got mine after 4 months. I got it while trading my YUL yellow in at YVR for another yellow, but it happened to be ready so they just skipped the temp and gave me a full red. The YVR pass office said it was ready at the beginning of the month, however YUL had never contacted me. So it's a good thing I was doing a transfer otherwise who knows how long it would have taken in Montreal.

[lrae24]

Hello Everyone,

I just want to ask in applying a raic at the airport pass office, they will ask you if you lived in the US in the past 5 years.
What is that all about?
for example if you have lived there in the past 5 years do you still need to provide a police clearance from the US?
what is the latest now on the RAIC processing times. Thank you very much

[Tailwheelup]

Has anyone any inside information on "the agencies" that
are each separately required to provide Transport Canada with their approval?

Is a permanent RAIC ever issued without a temporary being issued?

Has anyone used their local persons of influence to find out and or
expedite the process?

Has anyone worked in this area?


Any PM appreciated.

[leftoftrack]

none, your pilots licence and a need to be there is all you legally require to be in the restricted area

[Tailwheelup]

"Left of track". Dismissive posts don't help.

RAIC's are essential prerequisites for some jobs.
I've done many years without one and now, I'm required to have one.
The process is unnecessarily secretive.
You can call and all the information you get is "it's being processed"
meaning its being assessed by one of a variety of authorities who
apparently have to provide a report or check off a box.

I'm looking to hear from someone who used to process these applications.

Some of the prior posts leave me concerned, such as that they don't check prior addresses etc.
I don't see them checking with every landlord of every address you lived at for five years.

Other countries process similar applications rapidly.

The Canadian process is extremely slow. It's typical of attitude of those in the government who
don't give a dam about time delays etc. Its that apathy that I find offensive.

Its also discriminatory, if you have spent time in another country or hold a different citizenship
then it is designed to make sure you will not have your RAIC issued in time to be considered for
a position.

It needs a shake up from the minister down.

[Tailwheelup]

It appears TC can take a very long time in issuing RAIC cards.
I've looked at the TC material and the Federal Court cases and came up
with what many must think is obvious, but, it appears to be what controls them.

The time taken appears to be for
"the Director of Security Screening Programs is satisfied that all information required by the application has been provided to the Minister and that such information can be verified to the Minister’s satisfaction; and
For the purpose of subsection (b), information provided by the applicant must be adequate, reliable and verifiable covering a period of five years prior to the application being made."

When I read the Federal court cases involving RAIC's there are 26 cases that all appear to fall into
"is known or suspected to be involved"
that ends up with a conclusion, recommended to the Minister that causes

the Minister reasonably believes, on a balance of probabilities, may be prone or induced to
commit an act that may unlawfully interfere with civil aviation; or
assist or abet any person to commit an act that may unlawfully interfere with civil aviation.

Out of 26 cases, there were 2 or 3 cases where the holder of a RAIC was the spouse of someone that the
police had reports of "associating" with Hells Angels etc. It appears that TC can see what they want to see.

Its nearly as bad as being a pilot of a passenger aircraft and unwittingly fly a passenger who associates with Hell's Angels.
Those applications for review were granted. The rest were not, often there was what appeared to be overwhelming evidence
of criminal associations or activity including large amounts of drugs or cash. At the bottom end, $900 can be called a large amount.

What this appears to mean is, that TC can take their sweet time, as an any organization that they use to verify information.
Where the accountability falls apart is that they fail to disclose just how many checks are done, how long each takes, which
authority is responsible for what delay etc.

I'm told it is now taking so long that temporary cards expire and have to be renewed before
a permanent card can be issued.

It's self defeating. The system takes so long that it inherently creates threats to aviation safety.

It would be interesting knowing just how much it costs the government and who is billed what.

If similar background checks are done for Provincial licencing, the time frame is generally days or weeks not months.