Had conversation with non-pilot friend and story came up about how he knew someone when he was kid the flew for years and years with never having gotten a PPL. Conversation turned to what would they do to you if you got caught and that stumped me. Obviously the FAA can ban you for life from ever getting a PPL, but is there a Federal Criminal Code they could charge you with ? The FAA is a civil agency so they can't come against you criminally. Obviously an aggressive prosecutor could cook up "endangering the public" or some such... but is there a real Federal criminal law specifically for flying a plane without a license ? Do the FAA regulations requiring a PPL spell out a punishment for non-compliance ? It would have to be a Federal law, the States have no jurisdiction over aviation.