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 Previous Item - SeaRey Adventure 1
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Boycott Bureaucrats! |
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Dan Nickens - May 02,2013
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Boycott Bureaucrats (and Beautiful Agents….and Lazy Pilots)!<br /><br />Undone again! And by the usual suspects….faceless bureaucrats and beautiful agents. And benign neglect (euphemism for laziness). The bureaucrats in Papeete effectively blocked SeaRey operations in the Marquesas Islands this week. They were aided in their accomplishment by a beautiful but naïve Agent. And by a beguiled pilot (me).<br /><br />Having once been tangled by the bureaucratic hoops in French Polynesia it should have been easier this time. Last time through herculean effort, assisted by French and European Union SeaRey owners, we convinced the French bureaucrats that an amateur built Special Airworthiness certificated SeaRey was not an instrument of aerial carnage. It was approved, but too late to deal with the other obstacles the bureaucrats had in their arsenal.<br /><br />This time we were forewarned. We were solemnly told last time that it was “tout à fait impossible” to obtain authorizations in less than four to six weeks. Surely, though, the impossible can be converted into simply difficult by application of mass quantities of money and effort. (Possibly, but we’ll not know from this experiment: the element of effort was not sufficiently applied.)<br /><br />With less than four weeks before launch I was tasked to get the permit. I immediately contacted Etienne, a grouchy yacht agent in Papeete. He told me, “Pas possible. Non.”<br /><br />I was ready for him. “We got the experimental certification approved last time. All we need now is to take care of the local requirements.” <br /><br />“Il est très difficile.”<br /><br />Well, at least that was an improvement from impossible.<br /><br />“Do you know the Octopussy?” he asked.<br /><br />“Of course. I’ve seen that yacht in an old Bond movie.”<br /><br />“There was much effort to get the Octopussy’s C206 approved for seaplane operations in Tahiti. The Captain finally gave up. It was too much.”<br /><br />“Yeah, but we’re not talking about Tahiti. We want approval for sparsely populated islands in the middle of the ocean.<br /><br />Etienne suggested that if I was willing to remain 8 km or more from any airport and avoid any operation from lagoons, the local requirements might not be an issue.<br /><br />A quick check of Google Earth confirmed a scarcity of airports (four in all the Marquesas) and almost no lagoons. I agreed.<br /><br />Etienne was still reluctant. “Perhaps we should engage the agent that obtained authorization for the SeaRey last time.”<br /><br />Sacrebleu! Yes! Kahaia was instrumental in getting the SeaRey approved last time. Her youth and beauty would be no impediment (not so long ago she was “Miss Tahiti”, right out of a Gouguin painting). And, the fact that her mother was highly placed in the Department of Civil Aviation was a bonus.<br /><br />Success was surely assured. I bought my ticket.<br /><br />It was no worry that our application was met with silence for several weeks. The documentation provided was voluminous and complete based upon our earlier submission.<br /><br />About a week ago the bureaucrats demanded more: “Who will be flying such a thing?” and “Why will they be flying such a thing?”<br /><br />Ha! That’s easy. At least they weren’t questioning the SeaRey’s status as a real seaplane. A few more documents and done!<br /><br />But the bureaucrats always have weapons of mass distraction secreted in their arsenal: “The aircraft and pilot are approved. Now we require only a few more documents. You now must comply with the other requirements of the regulations.”<br /><br />Uh, what other requirements, Kahaia?<br /><br />When she started the list with “Oh lala…” I knew we were in trouble.<br /><br />Trouble was confirmed by a specific condition of the regulations: “L’autorisation est prUcaire et rUvocable.” The permission is precarious and revocable.<br /><br />Among the additional requirements, the list included,<br />- A marine chart showing areas of operation and routes;<br />- Written approval of local governmental officials;<br />- Approval of the local agencies with jurisdiction of the proposed marine operation areas.<br /><br />After obtaining those documents, the DGAC (French Polynesia’s FAA) would then consult with the Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Navigation and Maritime Affairs, and, of course, the U.S. FAA.<br /><br />Four to six weeks. Right. That’s probably the time it takes to get written authorization after approval is given.<br /><br />So, instead of Nuku Hiva, I’m flying a SeaRey to Detroit next week. That, my friends, is poetic justice! But, I’m privileged to be able to fly to Detroit without begging for permission from a legion of bureaucrats. Vive la diference!<br /><br /><br /><br />I found the Bing translation of the regulations entertaining. I copied some below.<br /><br /><br />Some Seaplane Regulations in French Polynesia:<br /><br /><br />Les hydrosurfaces ne peuvent être utilisêes qu’à titre occasionnel.<br /><br />The hydrosurfaces can be used only on an occasional basis.<br /><br /><br />Les hydrosurfaces sont interdites:<br />a. à l’interUrieur des limites adminstratives des circonscriptions portuaires et notamment du port autonome de Papeete, sauf accord Uventual des autoritUs gestionnaires du port;<br />b. Dans les chenaux de navigation et à l’interieur des limities des bandes côtières dUfinies par la dUlibUration modifiUe susvisUe, sauf autorisation du service des affaires maritimes ou des authoritiUs portuaires;<br />c. à moins de 8 km autour des aUrodromes ouverts à la circulation aUrienne publique et à usage restraint, sauf accord des autoritUs aUroportuaires compUtenetes;<br />d. à l’intUriour des zones protUgUes, sauf autorisation expresse.<br />e. À l’interieur des zones protUgUes, sauf autorisation expresse.<br /><br />The hydrosurfaces are prohibited:<br />a. the intererieur of limits administrative port districts and, in particular, the autonomous port of Papeete, except agreement eventual managers port authorities;<br />b. in the navigation and channels inside the limits of the coastal bands defined by the above-mentioned amended deliberation, unless authorized by the service of Maritime Affairs and port authorities;<br />c. less than 8 km around aerodromes open to public air traffic and use restraint, except with the agreement of the authorities airport competenetes;<br />d. the interiour of protected areas, unless expressly permitted.<br />e. inside protected areas, unless expressly permitted.<br /><br /><br />L’agrUment d’une hydrosurface est subordonnUe a une autorisation prise par arêtU du PrUsident du gouvernement de la Polynesie, après avis du maire de la commune concernUe. Cet arêtU est publiU en mairie.<br /><br />Approval of a hydrosurface is conditional permission taken by edge of the President of the Government of Polynesia, after opinion of the Mayor of the concerned municipality. This edge is published in City Hall.<br /><br /><br />L’autorisation est prUcaire et rUvocable.<br /><br />The permission is precarious and revocable.<br /><br /><br />L’utilisation d’une hydrosurface n’emporte aucune dUrogation aux règles de circulation dans les lagons et de prUvention des abordages en mer.<br /><br />The use of a hydrosurface takes no derogation to the rules of traffic in the lagoons and prevention of collisions at sea.<br /><br /><br />Le prUsent arêtU n’emporte aucune dUrogation aux rUgles de la circulation aUrienne et du transport aUrien.<br /><br />This edge shall no derogate from the rules of air traffic and air transport.<br /><br /><br />Les hydrodurfaces sont signalUes sur les cartes marines. Elles sont utilisUes sous la responsabilitU du pilote ou de l’exploitant de l’aUronef.<br /><br />The hydrosurfaces are marked on nautical charts. They are used under the responsibility of the pilot or the aircraft operator.<br /><br /><br />La demande d’autorisation pour l’utilisation d’une hydrosurface est à addresser au minister charge des transports aUriens comportant:<br />- Une carte marine prUcisant la position de l’hydrosurface et les cheminements envisagUs;<br />- Une note prUcisant l’usage auquel est destinU l’hydrosurface;<br />- L’avis du maire de la commune concernUe<br />- L’accord Ucrit de la personne ayant la jouissance d’un plan d’eau concUdU.<br /><br />The authorization for the use of a hydrosurface request is directed to the minister for air transport with:<br />- -A map marine specifying the position of the hydrosurface and the routes envisaged;<br />- -A note specifying the use to which is for the hydrosurface;<br />- -The opinion of the Mayor of the concerned municipality<br />- -The written agreement of the person with the enjoyment of a waterbody conceded.<br /><br /><br />Le service territorial des transports interinsulaires, service instructeur, sollicite l’avis des services techniques ci-aprUs;<br />- Le service d’Etat de l’aviation civile;<br />- Le service de la navigation et des affaires maritimes;<br />- La direction des affaires fonciUres;<br />- Le service des resources marines.<br /><br />The territorial Department of inter-island transport service instructor seeking the opinion of technical services following;<br />- -The State civil aviation service;<br />- -The service of navigation and Maritime Affairs;<br />- -Direction of foreign land;<br />- -The service of the marine resources.<br /><br />
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Steve Kessinger - May 02,2013
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It used to be said that the British invented Burrocracy, and the Indians perfected it. I think that cliche needs to be updated....<br /><br />Sorry to hear, Dan.
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Thomas Brooks - May 03,2013
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I guess I'll be seeing you here next week.
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Bill Walker - May 03,2013
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Dan,<br />Curious about what is driving this attitude?<br />Surely Panam would have opened the door.<br /><br />Has the submarine been loaded? Looking for more adventures.<br /><br />Really enjoy stories.<br /><br />Be Safe, <br />Bill
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Dan Nickens - May 03,2013
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Pan Am had a Clipper base next to the Papeete International Airport on Tahiti, Bill. I'm told there is a PBY sunk in the harbor there. Perhaps the PBY ran over the Governor's rowboat? The even worse news is that I was also told by a local flight instructor that the government doesn't like any kind of general aviation. All kinds of barriers are in place to keep non-commercial aircraft out of the air. I can’t imagine what drives this kind of stupidity.
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Bård Sørbye - May 03,2013
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Just read in Norwegian newspaper: 'nobody in Europe has more bureaucratic obstacles than the French' - or something to that effect.
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Kenneth Leonard - May 03,2013
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Vive la LibertU! Right you are Bard. <br />The perfect representatives of 'the government is smarter than the people' mindset.<br />
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