Narrative:

I either left my wallet in hotel room or lost it during first leg of flight. Just prior to second leg of flight FAA inspector showed up and requested medical and certificate. It was at this point I realized the loss. My company immediately faxed copy of medical to us. It was 5 weeks old. This was unacceptable by far's. We contacted oklahoma city. They were willing to facsimile copy of airman certificate to us. This was unacceptable to inspector. He would only accept telegram. After 30 mins trying to find local western union office we called oklahoma city back this time they convinced inspector to accept facsimile from FAA for airman certificate, however they did not have copy of medical. I found out later medical examiner had not sent it in yet (5 weeks). Inspector decided to call his office for instructions. He was obviously confused. His supervisor had no idea what to do. The inspector finally authorize flight (he was going home with us) after 90 mins. We finally departed with 86 passenger 90 mins late. Problems: inspector would not believe co-workers in airman records at oklahoma city that facsimile was permissible. Inspector or his supervisor would not make decision as to legality of continued flight. In odd circumstances FAA should accept facsimile of medical or certificate. It is current technology, even if it is not specifically stated in far's. Medical should have been in records by this time. My personal opinion of the entire incident was that the inspector was more worried about form than function. A facsimile of my license was unacceptable but a telex was ok. Once it was proven I had a license and valid medical, the flight should have continued. During the entire 2 hour, 30 min flight he kept saying a facsimile was not proof. I do not believe he had any idea if we were operating the aircraft safely. This aci seemed to have no knowledge of aviation or aircraft--his concern was paperwork.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT LOSES WALLET. FAA INSPECTOR REFUSES TO ACCEPT FAX COPIES OF CERTIFICATES.

Narrative: I EITHER LEFT MY WALLET IN HOTEL ROOM OR LOST IT DURING FIRST LEG OF FLT. JUST PRIOR TO SECOND LEG OF FLT FAA INSPECTOR SHOWED UP AND REQUESTED MEDICAL AND CERTIFICATE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THE LOSS. MY COMPANY IMMEDIATELY FAXED COPY OF MEDICAL TO US. IT WAS 5 WKS OLD. THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE BY FAR'S. WE CONTACTED OKLAHOMA CITY. THEY WERE WILLING TO FAX COPY OF AIRMAN CERTIFICATE TO US. THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO INSPECTOR. HE WOULD ONLY ACCEPT TELEGRAM. AFTER 30 MINS TRYING TO FIND LCL WESTERN UNION OFFICE WE CALLED OKLAHOMA CITY BACK THIS TIME THEY CONVINCED INSPECTOR TO ACCEPT FAX FROM FAA FOR AIRMAN CERTIFICATE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT HAVE COPY OF MEDICAL. I FOUND OUT LATER MEDICAL EXAMINER HAD NOT SENT IT IN YET (5 WKS). INSPECTOR DECIDED TO CALL HIS OFFICE FOR INSTRUCTIONS. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY CONFUSED. HIS SUPVR HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THE INSPECTOR FINALLY AUTHORIZE FLT (HE WAS GOING HOME WITH US) AFTER 90 MINS. WE FINALLY DEPARTED WITH 86 PAX 90 MINS LATE. PROBS: INSPECTOR WOULD NOT BELIEVE CO-WORKERS IN AIRMAN RECORDS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THAT FAX WAS PERMISSIBLE. INSPECTOR OR HIS SUPVR WOULD NOT MAKE DECISION AS TO LEGALITY OF CONTINUED FLT. IN ODD CIRCUMSTANCES FAA SHOULD ACCEPT FAX OF MEDICAL OR CERTIFICATE. IT IS CURRENT TECHNOLOGY, EVEN IF IT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED IN FAR'S. MEDICAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN RECORDS BY THIS TIME. MY PERSONAL OPINION OF THE ENTIRE INCIDENT WAS THAT THE INSPECTOR WAS MORE WORRIED ABOUT FORM THAN FUNCTION. A FAX OF MY LICENSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE BUT A TELEX WAS OK. ONCE IT WAS PROVEN I HAD A LICENSE AND VALID MEDICAL, THE FLT SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED. DURING THE ENTIRE 2 HR, 30 MIN FLT HE KEPT SAYING A FAX WAS NOT PROOF. I DO NOT BELIEVE HE HAD ANY IDEA IF WE WERE OPERATING THE ACFT SAFELY. THIS ACI SEEMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF AVIATION OR ACFT--HIS CONCERN WAS PAPERWORK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.