Bureaucratic common sense.......

[Gilles Hudicourt]

My old RAIC was to expire on May 2nd. So, in early January, I went to the YUL RAIC office to renew the card, just under 4 months before the expiry date. I had the required form filled out and signed by Air Transat, my employer. The people at the RAIC office told me they would call when the card was ready. May 2nd came and went with no news from them. Today I went to the YUL pass office. This is the exchange that took place.

Me: Hello, I came to renew my RAIC last January but my old one has since expired with no word from your office.
Him, after taking my old card from me: Ah! Yes, Mr Hudicourt, I see your application is on file here. Your new card is not yet ready to be issued. It's been four months, that's about normal. You'll need a temporary card in the meantime.
Me: Good, may I have one?
Him: Do you have an employment letter from your employer ?
Me: I gave all that last January.
Him: That was then. How are we to know you still work there ?
Me: I see. So that means that when I come to pick up the permanent one, next month or whenever, I will need another letter from my employer stating I still work there?
Him: No, you gave that one already last January.

[Cough Syrup]

The whole RAIC system is a bureaucratic nightmare....

[dashx]

It's a good thing your employer provided you with an escort..............

[North Shore]

That's hilarious!

In the same vein, one of my co-workers just went to get his pass replaced. The first name of our company is the same as where we are located.
Pass Office: Where do you work?
Co-worker: ABC Air Service
Pass Office: Where is that located?
Co-worker: Well, ABC is your first clue!

[Topspin]

Don't be too rough on the folks behind the counter, just a subcontracted $10/hr job, usually the same company that does door guarding and checking your RAIC. More difficult job than the $20/hr folks who beat you with the baton on the pretense of "Being safe"

They ask the stupid question because if they send the form off to CATSA without the t's dotted and i's crossed it just gets sent back and then it's time to get upset, so they make certain even if it is stupid. Poor bastards probably get more flak than meter maids.

[KAG]

4 months to get your RAIC???? wow, I've had my replacment in weeks in YYC.

[rudder]

The fact that RAIC is administered by each local airport authority is indicative of the lack of oversight and consistency in process. It should be no more complicated than renewing a passport which falls under Federal jurisdiction.

[teacher]

The fact that RAIC is administered by each local airport authority is indicative of the lack of oversight and consistency in process. It should be no more complicated than renewing a passport which falls under Federal jurisdiction.

Stop making sense

[WileyCoyote]

Just over two weeks to get a fresh one in YYC....

[loopa]

Is it true that when you move on to better jobs and hand in your RAIC to your old employer, that if they are bitter, they can get away with not sending in your RAIC? Causing you to not being able to get a RAIC with the new company and as a result get fired? ... Condition of employment at many operators is to get a RAIC within 6 weeks.

Anyone else heard of this ever?

Apparently some guys experiencing this had a hell of a time dealing with some port's especially like YVR. And apparently there's no possible way for any body to prove that the company simply held on to your RAIC.

Seems like a bizarre system if you ask me.

[rooster]

Is it true that when you move on to better jobs and hand in your RAIC to your old employer, that if they are bitter, they can get away with not sending in your RAIC? Causing you to not being able to get a RAIC with the new company and as a result get fired? ... Condition of employment at many operators is to get a RAIC within 6 weeks.

Anyone else heard of this ever?

Apparently some guys experiencing this had a hell of a time dealing with some port's especially like YVR. And apparently there's no possible way for any body to prove that the company simply held on to your RAIC.

Seems like a bizarre system if you ask me.

True story. Friend of mine went to work for a new company about 2 months after leaving his old one (no, he did not screw them over in doing so and he did nothing to piss them off during his final tenure with them), and during the RAIC application, he was informed his old RAIC had not yet been surrendered. He did hand it in to his old employer (along with other manuals etc when you trade it all in for your final cheque). He called his old employer and when he was looking to speak to the appropriate person about the RAIC, he was told that person was busy so leave a message. So he did, a couple times, along with emails. His calls/emails were never returned. So, he talked to his lawyer and he sent his old company a letter from his office politely advising them of the consequences for negligence resulting in prevention of future employment. The very next day, the RAIC was returned to the Airport Authority and he was able to go ahead with obtaining a new one.

So yes, companies can/will/have done it, but they play a very risky game by doing it.

[sanjet]

I would never give my RAIC card to my employer, even after quitting. In the end it is your responsibility, if your employer loses it, you might still be in the blame. What worked for me: I personally handed my RAIC card from my previous employer to the airport office and asked for a signed receipt. If your past employers, for some reason, harasses you about not giving in your RAIC card, just give them a copy of your signed receipt and let them handle finding out through the bureaucratic maze.

[Big Pistons Forever]

It wasn't any better in the old days. When I applied for my first pass in 1991 the commisionaire gave me a form "TC450". As soon as I saw it I realized that it was identical to the security clearance "450" form I had filled out about 6 months previously to renew my Reserve security clearance, so I said "I already filled one of these out" to which the commisionaire replied "where", at my Reserve unit, I said.

Oh he said, was it on a green form ? Yes was my response.

He gave me a condescending smile and holding up the orange form he said "that was a DND 450 form, this is a TC 450 form", they have a different color to make sure you do both !

But they are exactly the same ! I said.

At that point things got decidedly frosty so I went home got my copy of the DND form, transfered all the information to the TC form and eventually got my pass

[sarg]

I would never give my RAIC card to my employer, even after quitting. In the end it is your responsibility, if your employer loses it, you might still be in the blame. What worked for me: I personally handed my RAIC card from my previous employer to the airport office and asked for a signed receipt. If your past employers, for some reason, harasses you about not giving in your RAIC card, just give them a copy of your signed receipt and let them handle finding out through the bureaucratic maze.

That about covers it Sanjet, read the back of your RAIC it states it's property of the issuing airport, not your employer. Hand it into the issuing office and get the reciept it sometimes takes the issuing office time to update the computer records. I did that a couple of employers ago, about a week later when I went to apply for my new one I was told that I still had an outstanding RAIC I showed my reciept to the new pass bureau a quick phone call later all was good.

[teacher]

read the back of your RAIC it states it's property of the issuing airport, not your employer.

This statement is VERY important. It doesn't belong to or have ANYTHING to do with your current employer. You have to prove you work there to get it BUT it belongs to the airport.