The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published an updated exemption related to visiting and overflight of the UK by certain Irish registered permit aircraft. The changes are generally technical in nature with the removal of references to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. However, we thought it would be useful to publish the details here again so any pilots flying permit aircraft and intending to visit the UK are familiar with the requirements.
This exemption applies to civil aircraft in the following categories that are subject to a Flight Permit issued by the Irish Aviation Authority:
(a) Home built aircraft.
(b) Historic aircraft types that previously held an ICAO-compliant Certificate of Airworthiness, initially designed before 1 January 1955 and whose production has ceased before 1 January 1975 and whose maximum take-off- mass does not exceed 5,700kg.
(c) Aircraft specifically designed or modified for research, experimental or scientific purposes, and likely to be produced in very limited numbers.
(d) Single-seat and two-seat non-Part 21 aeroplanes with a maximum take-off mass of not more than:
(i) 600kg for a land plane; or
(ii) 650kg for an amphibian or floatplane and having, or been modified to have, a stalling speed, or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration, of not more than 45 knots calibrated airspeed.
(e) Gliders with a maximum empty mass, of not more than 250kg when single-seater, or 400kg when two-seater, including those which are foot launched.
(f) Replicas of aircraft of (b) above, for which the structural design is similar to the original aircraft.
(g) Factory-built gyroplanes.
(h) Any other aircraft which has a maximum empty mass, including fuel, of no more than 70kg.
Conditions of Exemption
This exemption is granted subject to the following conditions that apply to all categories of aircraft:
(a) The aircraft must be registered in Ireland and display the relevant markings assigned by Ireland as the State of Registry.
(b) The aircraft must be flown in accordance with the conditions, limitations and restrictions under a valid Flight Permit, Flight Permit Exemption, or equivalent document issued by the Irish Aviation Authority.
(c) The aircraft must not be flown for the purpose of public transport or commercial operations.
(d) The aircraft must be flown by day only and in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules.
(e) The aircraft must not remain in Great Britain pursuant to this exemption for a period of more than 28 days in any one visit, without the prior permission of the CAA.
(f) The aircraft may enter or overfly the territory of Northern Ireland pursuant to this exemption, without the prior permission of the CAA.
(g) The owner of the aircraft must ensure that the documents specified in Schedule 1 to this exemption are valid and available for inspection by the CAA on demand when the aircraft is in the UK.
(h) The pilot of the aircraft shall hold a valid pilot licence and medical certificate, issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1, which meets the requirements of the applicable Irish legislation for the pilot to act as pilot of the aircraft. Pilots who do not hold such a valid ICAO Annex 1 licence and medical certificate will need to contact the CAA for permission to fly in UK airspace.
NOTE: Paragraph (e) is intended to facilitate regular short-term visits of qualifying aircraft to Northern Ireland. It is not intended to accommodate Irish registered aircraft being based in Northern Ireland. Where this proves to be the case, the aircraft will be required to be registered in the United Kingdom.
The full exemption is available to read here.
