Crossing the Channel / Irish Sea – Aide Memoire

V3.5 © D J M White, April 2007

The following assumes that aircraft is on a C of A (i.e. NOT a PFA Permit) and that all occupants hold EU passports.

Permits: France, Germany, Eire as for CofA aircraft.  Else check

http://www.pfa.org.uk/Engineering%20pdfs/Operating%20an%20Aircraft%20ona%20PFA%20Permit/Operating%20an%20Aircraft%20ona%20PFA%20Permit/TL%202.08%20Travelling%20abroad%20in%20a%20Permit%20Aircraft.pdf

Information in BLUE is for operations to/from Wiltshire.  Check your own local requirements (i.e. Immigration and Special Branch Fax Nos on back of Gen Dec form ; FIS Frequency ; AIS Location to file Flight Plan)

Personal Documentation:

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Aircraft Documentation:

√

·         Pilot’s Licence

 

 

·         Certificate of Registration

 

·         Pilot’s Medical Certificate

 

 

·         Certificate of Airworthiness

 

·         Pilot’s Radio Licence

 

 

·         Aircraft Radio Licence

 

·         Passport(s)

 

 

·         Insurance Certificate

 

·         Health Form E111(s)

(Not compulsory)

 

 

·         Interception Signals List

(e.g. CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 11)

 

NOTE: Documents should be the originals, but obviously sensible to leave photocopies at home!

Aircraft & Survival Equipment:

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·                     Maps & Flight Guides

 

·                     Lifejackets

 

·                     Tie Downs

 

·                     Immersion Suit (Consider)

 

·                     Liferaft (Consider)

 

·                     Aircraft Cover (Consider)

 

·                     Sun Shade (Consider)

 

NOTE: A Mode A transponder, or better, is required if flying to/from the Channel Islands

OUTBOUND FROM UK

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Flight Plan

Min. 1 hour before departure

Fax 020 8750 2617/2618 (Heathrow)

Activate with FIS (124.75) when airborne1

 

 

 

Foreign Customs Notification

Submitted – Check Notice Period

(Not required for CI / NI / IoM / Eire)

 

 

UK Customs & Immigration

Declaration (GAR Form)

Not specifically required if outbound to EU.

Min. 24h if non-EU; 12h if Channel Islands

 

 

Special Branch Permission2

(GAR Form)

Min. 12 hours if outbound CI/IoM/NI/ Eire

Fax:    01380 734170  (Tel:01380 735011)

 

 

ON ARRIVAL, CLOSE FLIGHTPLAN

FRANCE: 0810 437 837 (“0810 IFR VFR”)

UK:           020 8750 2615/2616

 

 

1 Or activate by departure airfield / “Responsible Person” Tel. 020 8750 2615/2616

2 If required, e.g. If destination is Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Eire.

INBOUND TO UK

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Flight Plan

Min. 1 hour before departure

Fax Local ATC or 020-8745 3491 / 3492

Activate with FIS when airborne3

 

 

 

Foreign Customs

Cleared (Not required if outbound from CI/NI/IOM/Eire)

 

UK Customs & Immigration Notification (GAR Form)

Notify min. 4 hrs prior to arrival from EU4

Min. 24h if non-EU; 12h if Channel Islands

Customs Fax: 0870 240 3738

Imm. Fax: 02380 627262 (Tel: 02380 727107)

 

 

 

Special Branch Permission, if reqd.5

(GAR Form)

Min. 12 hours prior to arrival

Fax:    01380 734170  (Tel:01380 735011)

 

 

ON ARRIVAL, CLOSE FLIGHTPLAN

FRANCE: 0810 437 837 (“0810 IFR VFR”)

UK:           020 8750 2615/2616

 

 

3 Unless activated by departure airfield or “Responsible Person”.

4 Unless arriving at “Designated” Customs airfield, when prior notification NOT required. 4 hours also required if returning to Private airfield from EU. Specific permission needed if non-EU to private airfield.

5i.e. if departure from Channel Islands, IoM, Eire, Northern Ireland. (Fulfils Immigration Reqmt.)

“GAR” Form: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_PROD_009149

Flight Plan Form:           http://www.ais.org.uk/aes/en/CA48.PDF

NOTE: Flight plan closure on returning to UK is NOT compulsory.  Search & Rescue will only be called out if “responsible person” alerts emergency services when aircraft is overdue. THIS IS NOT THE CASE ELSEWHERE, when failing to close can be expensive!