The UK Home Office is consulting on a proposal to introduce regulations that would require people responsible for international General Aviation (GA) flights to submit information online and in advance about flights and people on board and penalise failures to comply. The proposed regulations would be underpinned by a civil penalty regime with a penalty for non-compliance of up to £10,000.
For the purpose of this consultation GA means any aircraft whether operated commercially or privately, not operating to a specific and published schedule, not subject of a written requirement to provide advance information to an immigration officer or police officer, and not making a military flight other than those carrying non-military personnel.
The unscheduled nature of GA and the high number of locations across and around the UK that flights can arrive into present significant challenges to border security and law enforcement. Criminals are known to use GA to facilitate illegal immigration, and to smuggle drugs and other prohibited goods into the UK.
In order to fully assess the risk posed by individuals arriving in private aircraft, authorities need to know who is intending to travel before they do so. The receipt of Advance Passenger Information (API), submitted online and in advance for all international flights, would allow Border Force and other law enforcement authorities to monitor and quantify the extent of the potential threat and level of risk. It would enhance watch listing and intelligence-led analysis and improve the effectiveness with which resources are deployed to meet those flights. This information is processed to identify individuals who are of interest to law enforcement authorities; excluded from the UK, have been previously deported or are using documents reported lost or stolen.
Irish General Aviation pilots are significantly affected by UK GAR rules, particularly the long notification timeframes currently required. If you would like to respond to this consultation, you must do so by 16th June, more details are available here.
