Where do you keep your personal docs when flying?
Posted by LancerXO@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 44 comments
Q: Where do you all keep your medical cert, certs and rating cards, passport, etc.?
For context, at the moment I am flying GA only - but on professional path. Sounds like a lot of people keep their docs on/in their flight bag, but the value of headsets makes me concerned about theft of flight bags.
What do you recommend?
atmatthewat@reddit
I'm in the US and flying under Basic Med, so I carry my plastic FAA card in my wallet right behind my drivers license. Done.
Mispelled-This@reddit
Pilot cert and passport card are in my wallet, and everything else is in my headset bag. A lost or stolen passport book would be annoying, but it only takes a day to get a new one in a pinch if you know where to go.
LPT: the passport card can substitute for a passport book for anything except int’l air travel, and having one simplifies and speeds up getting a replacement book.
adventuresofh@reddit
I don’t take my passport unless I’m flying international or leaving an airplane where I’ll have to airline home.
I keep everything else in my wallet in my backpack. I don’t have a separate flight bag.
ChestertonsFence1929@reddit
In my flight bag. I’m not flying anywhere without it.
Feathers_McGraw__@reddit
Certs, medical, and FCC radio permit in my wallet right next to my driver’s license. That way as long as I leave the house with my wallet, I’m ready for a ramp check.
When working or jumpseating, passport in my pocket.
RyzOnReddit@reddit
I’m based out of an airport that requires badges, so I keep my cert and medical in the badge holder.
caregy@reddit
I bought a cheap passport wallet. It has a windowed slot which fits my US medical. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W2NZPMP?th=1. Bonus theres a little airplane logo on it too.
lowandsleepy@reddit
I have a zephyr aviation wallet that I keep my passport, ATP, medical, CFI, and FCC cert in and that always stays in my flight bag. Makes it pretty easy when jumpseating.
jseasbiscuit@reddit
The zephyr wallets are awesome, it's great to have all my docs in one place so I never forget them when flying. It's also very convenient flying 135 into foreign countries where they always want to see your pilot cert in addition to the passport
legimpster@reddit
+1 for the Zephyr, especially with the AirTag holder in it. Keep that in the flight bag and you can track it in case it grows legs.
colin_do@reddit
+1 for the Zephyr aviation document holder. I keep it in my flight bag if I'm flying something with a roof, and slide it into the inside pocket of my jacket if I'm impersonating Waldo Pepper. Took a lot of the bulk out of my wallet, good for the lumbar spine.
thetuxfollower@reddit
That’s my setup. The wallet lives in my flight bag if I’m at work or my headset bag if I’m flying little airplanes.
Ok_Witness179@reddit
That's part of why I always recommend just a regular backpack as a flight bag.
But also, just treat your bag like it's full of expensive stuff (because it is), and do t leave it laying around to be stolen. It either stays home, or I'm carrying it. Has worked pretty well so far, knock on wood...
swakid8@reddit
I have a passport wallet strictly for passport, pilot/medical certs, FCC Card that I keep in my flight bag for jump seat purposes
HighRiskInv143@reddit
Amazon passport case in my flight bag
Silmarlion@reddit
In the flight bag. I use rimowa-pilot for flights, it has my passports,certs,endorsement book,aviation pro headset,ipad,charging cables and adapters for different types of plugs, uniform sweater, a parfume and flashlight.
fallingfaster345@reddit
Passport wallet, which stays in my pocket. If I ever get ramp checked, I have my certs on me. If I ever have an emergency evacuation, I have my certs on me.
CFIgigs@reddit
Passport holder that has extra little pockets like a wallet. I leave it in my flight bag so I always have everything in one spot. License, medical, passport, radio operator license, etc. My life became so much easier having it all in one place.
Grand_Raccoon0923@reddit
Prison wallet
TobyADev@reddit
The CAA when we get a licence sends us a flight crew licence booklet
Do some origami to squeeze it in there and keep it in your pocket. Or flight bag, and bring that along
DifferentIntern6311@reddit
Covid-19 passport holder. Has a clear pocket for the vaccine card that I use for my medical/license and then I keep my passport for the photo ID. Was like $5.99 and stays in my flight bag in a zipped pocket so I never get in the plane without it.
PILOT9000@reddit
In my passport wallet. No reason to get crazy with it.
FyrPilot86@reddit
Flight Suit, Nomex inside zipper pocket
nesargent@reddit
Prison wallet.
TristanwithaT@reddit
Plastic cards in wallet. Passport and paper docs stashed in a pocket in my flight bag
oh_helloghost@reddit
I have a little travel document wallet with Aviation Document Booklet (Canada), employee travel card, cash, emergency contact info, some medication, AirTag etc etc. that lives in my flight bag.
If I’m ever travelling/jumpseating for personal needs, I just pull the whole thing out and throw it in whatever bag I’m using.
Impressive_Jury_2211@reddit
Here you go thank me later Doc Holder
ewerdna@reddit
In my flight bag in a passport document holder. Flight bag is air tagged
JustAnotherDude1990@reddit
amazon.com/dp/B0DJ8BV86D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Something like this is common with pilots, this is just the first one I found on Amazon.
Ok-Money2811@reddit
Just a small passport wallet that has passport, certs, medical, radio license, and if I need it for some reason, my global entry card.
Rides in the side pocket of my small day trip bag. Only reason I ever usually take it out is if customs wants my passport which is rare since I have global entry, they usually just wave me through, especially in uniform working a flight.
mirassou3416@reddit
I never need my passport when flying. All of the other docs are in my flight bag. I also have copies on my iphone
Cant_Work_On_Reddit@reddit
Wallet. Also spent far too much time taking portions of the poh/supplements/w&b/vor check sheet and a few random reference docs and putting them all into a small a5 size notebook so I have everything needed in a single spot.
always_gone@reddit
Certs are in my wallet, medical is in my headset case which is in my flight bag. If I need it my passport goes in my flight bag too.
I treat my flight bag like it always has my headset, iPads and my passport in it, because it commonly does, so I don’t just leave it lying around unattended. I’m also a dirty freight dawg, so my flight bag is a nondescript backpack, not a fancy Luggage Works or Briggs & Riley roller.
Sad-Umpire6000@reddit
Medical and pilot certificate in my wallet. If I ever fly somewhere that my passport is needed, it’ll go in my other hip pocket.
What is a rating card?
JSTootell@reddit
Docs are with my headset or wallet. I don't travel without my wallet. I'm not flying without my headset.
Wasatcher@reddit
I have a flyboys kneeboard with a lil pouch that they all fit in perfectly. Passport just stays in the flightbag.
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Thomas-Ligotti97@reddit
I have one of those fireproof bags in a ‘hidden’ compartment in my backpack
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BrzMan@reddit
In my wallet
Metallica4life1995@reddit
Flight bag, I once made the mistake of putting my passport in my shirt sleeve and ended up washing the shirt with the passport in it. Never again
Moral of the story, don't do laundry at 2am
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Q: Where do you all keep your medical cert, certs and rating cards, passport, etc.?
For context, at the moment I am flying GA only - but on professional path. Sounds like a lot of people keep their docs on/in their flight bag, but the value of headsets makes me concerned about theft of flight bags.
What do you recommend?
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