Form

General aviation guidance (accessible)

Updated 22 October 2024

October 2024

About this guidance

This guidance is for owners or agents and captains of General Aviation (GA) aircraft making international flights to and from the UK. It provides information about completing and submitting information about those flights and the persons onboard, and about the aerodromes which must be used to make international GA flights.

Changes from last version of this guidance

  • This guidance has been updated to include a consolidated annex on GAR reporting.

General Aviation Flights

Owners or agents and captains of GA aircraft making international flights (including within the Common Travel Area (CTA))[footnote 1] are required to report or provide notification of those flights and the persons onboard to Border Force and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). In practice the information provided to Border Force for immigration purposes and shared[footnote 2] with HMRC, the police and the National Crime Agency for customs and policing purposes. In this way the information is used to prevent, detect and investigate crime and terrorism and to facilitate the legitimate passage of persons and goods across the border.

Legislation

Immigration Act 1971

The General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024 (‘the 2024 Regulations’) made under paragraph 27BA of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 require persons responsible for international GA flights to and from the UK to provide information online and in advance about the flights and the persons on board. This includes international flights within the CTA.

Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

Directions made under sections 35 and 64 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA) require the operator or pilot of a GA aircraft to report international and Channel Island flights to or from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Commissioners’ ‘Passenger Information Directions’ set out which flights are required to report for customs purposes.

Provision of information in compliance with the 2024 Regulations will be treated by the Secretary of State in the exercise of general customs functions in accordance with section 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 as sufficient for the purposes of the Passenger Information Directions made by the Commissioners for HM Revenue & Customs dated 1 April 2022.

Terrorism Act 2000

Paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 applies to international flights to and from the UK within the CTA and to flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Where the flight is carrying passengers for reward and the UK airport is not police designated, the owner or agents of the aircraft must obtain prior approval from a Police Examining Officer.

In all other cases, where the UK airport is not police designated, the pilot must notify the police at least 12 hours before departure from or arrival at that UK port.

See annex C for further information on how to comply with this requirement. If further information is required, please contact the relevant county/area on the phone numbers provided in Annex B.

Wilful failure to seek approval or notify when required is a criminal offence.

How information about GA flights is used

Information about flights and persons on board is used by Border Force, HMRC, the Police and the National Crime Agency for immigration, customs and policing purposes. Information about their processing of personal information including from GARs can be found in the following privacy information notices:

Or the privacy information notice for the police area into which the flight is departing or arriving.

Where aircraft can arrive and depart

Designated airports

Airports can have 3 types of designation:

  • Customs & Excise

  • Immigration

  • Police

Pilots and operators using an airport designated as a Customs & Excise airport may fly to or from any destination. All airports designated as immigration ports of entry are also designated as customs & excise airports.

Where an aircraft is carrying any paying passengers (including air taxi and similar arrangements) between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or between the UK and the rest of the CTA the aircraft must use a police designated airport unless specific authority has been given by the relevant police force[footnote 3].

For customs purposes the locations at which an aircraft may arrive or depart fall into 3 categories. These depend on where in the UK the aircraft is departing or arriving:

  • Airports designated as Customs & Excise airports and/or designated immigration ports of entry by the Border Force and/or police designated,

  • Aerodromes approved under section 20B of CEMA as a regulated aerodrome, and

  • Unregulated aerodromes that are not a Customs & Excise designated airport or a regulated aerodrome. Flights into unregulated aerodromes are restricted:

    • Within Great Britain, unregulated aerodromes are restricted to the operation of domestic flights and flights to and from the Isle of Man only.

    • Within Northern Ireland, unregulated aerodromes are permitted to handle domestic, CTA and EU flights.

Annex A lists the Customs & Excise designated airports, immigration designated airports, police designated airports and approved aerodromes. Not all regulated aerodromes are listed.

Regulated aerodromes

For customs purposes each of the following is a “regulated aerodrome”—

(a) A customs and excise airport, and

(b) An aerodrome approved under section 20B of CEMA.

Any other aerodrome is an “unregulated aerodrome”.

There are restrictions to the type of traffic which regulated aerodromes approved under section 20B of CEMA may handle. Some regulated aerodromes are not approved to handle the movement of cargo for which a customs import or export declaration is required.

Operators and pilots of international flights must ensure their planned aerodrome of arrival or departure is authorised and able to receive a flight from outside the UK and, if the intention is to use the aerodrome to import/export goods, it holds the required customs authorisation to do so.

Pilots must not cause an aircraft to land, for the first time after its arrival in the UK or at any time while it is carrying passengers or goods brought in that aircraft from a place outside the UK and not yet cleared, at any place other than a regulated aerodrome. Failure to do so, except with Customs’ permission or for unavoidable cause makes the pilot in command liable to a civil penalty of £2,500.

Regulated bespoke aerodromes

Some aerodromes approved under section 20B of CEMA have been permitted to operate with additional privileges relating to the import or export of goods which are unique to their approval. Pilots, owners and operators should be familiar with the additional privileges of these regulated bespoke aerodromes.

Pilots are responsible for ensuring the regulated aerodrome they intend to use has the necessary approval in place to handle goods which they intend to import or export before they decide which aerodrome to use.

Unregulated aerodromes

Unregulated aerodromes within Great Britain are unable to receive flights from outside the UK (including from the Channel Islands and Ireland). They are permitted only to handle domestic flights, including flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

Unregulated aerodromes within Northern Ireland are permitted to receive domestic, CTA or EU flights. Only regulated aerodromes in Northern Ireland including custom and excise designated ports are permitted to handle international flights from outside of the CTA or the EU.

Aerodrome operating compliance

Section 21, CEMA prescribes that only regulated aerodromes including custom and excise designated airports and approved aerodromes in Great Britain can accept non-domestic flights.

If an aerodrome does not have an approval in place and operates an international flight (inbound or outbound), the person in control of the aerodrome would be liable to a civil penalty of £2,500.

In addition, section 20B of CEMA covers breach of an aerodrome approval. So, for example, if a regulated aerodrome allowed a flight and articles to be brought into the UK which it is not permitted to handle, the person in control of the aerodrome would be in breach of their approval and would be liable for a civil penalty of £1000.

These penalties are set by the Customs (Contravention of a Relevant Rule) Regulations 2003[footnote 4] and are managed under the Customs Civil Penalties regime set out in sections 24 to 41 of the Finance Act 2003.

If the person in control of an aerodrome approved under section 20B of CEMA wishes the aerodrome to be a regulated bespoke aerodrome, they must obtain specific approval to do so from the Border Force National Frontier Approvals Unit (NFAU).

Submitting information about GA flights

General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024

The owner or agent and captain (“the responsible person”) of a GA aircraft making an international flight to or from the UK (including within the Common Travel Area) is required to submit specified information about the flight and persons on board.

Timing requirements

The information required must be submitted no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the expected time of departure.

Approved submission methods

The information required must be supplied to the Home Office using one of these methods:

Submission of information about the flight and persons on board manually via email, fax or any other unapproved means is not compliant with the 2024 Regulations.

When using the sGAR portal the responsible person can complete and upload a GAR template or complete the online web form.

When submitting information via sGAR using the online web form, the responsible person must insert a valid ICAO or IATA designation for the flight departure and arrival locations. YYYY or ZZZZ cannot be inserted. If the departure and/or arrival location does not have an ICAO or IATA designation, the responsible person must provide latitude and longitude co-ordinates in the degree, minutes and seconds format.

Civil Penalties

Any responsible person who breaches a requirement of the 2024 Regulations may be liable to a civil penalty of up to £10,000. Information on the civil penalty process can be found here: General aviation operators and pilots notification of flights.

Reporting in exceptional circumstances

Delayed flights

Compliance with the 2-hour reporting requirement within the 2024 Regulations is required in the event of a delayed flight.

The requirement to resubmit a GAR in the event of a delay will depend on several factors:

  1. How long the delay is: If the flight will operate on the same day, albeit later, no new report is required. If a flight is delayed to the next calendar day, a new report must be submitted.

  2. Any changes to the aircraft or persons on board: Any changes to the aircraft or where additional individuals are travelling on the flight who were not listed on the previous GAR submission mean a new report must be submitted.

  3. Change of arrival aerodrome: If the arrival aerodrome changes and this is known prior to departure a new report must be submitted with the new arrival aerodrome.

Exceptional in-flight circumstances

Change to arrival aerodrome

If, due to bad weather or technical issues, a flight is forced to change its arrival location in-flight, the following process may be followed:

  1. Provided it is practicable to do so, the change may be notified to the NCU[footnote 6] by calling +44 300 123 2012.

  2. If this is not possible, the pilot must divert to the alternative customs and excise designated aerodrome specified on the flight plan.

  3. Flights which the pilot is required to notify in accordance with the Terrorism Act 2000 must use the alternative police designated aerodrome specified on the flight plan.

If circumstances mean the pilot is unable to divert to the alternative customs or police designated aerodrome specified on the flight plan, the pilot must redirect to the nearest available airfield, submit a new report and contact local Border Force on arrival.

In-flight diversion

If, due to bad weather or technical issues, a flight is forced to divert and land prior to arriving in the UK, resulting in a change of departure aerodrome the original GAR submission does not need to be cancelled and a new GAR submission is not required.

Immigration and documentation requirements to enter the UK

Responsible persons are expected to ensure:

  • Every individual onboard has a valid passport or travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality and is acceptable for travel to the UK;

  • The individual is the rightful holder of the passport or travel document; and

  • The individual, if required, holds a vaild visa or permission to travel of the kind required under the immigration rules.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens must use a valid passport when travelling to the UK, ID cards are no longer be accepted as valid travel document for entry to the UK. Please check GOV.UK for further details and exceptions.

Border Force will use the information provided about the persons on board to consider whether anyone onboard requires permission to enter the UK, and if so whether to grant this permission. Those who require permission to enter must receive notification of permission to enter the UK prior to disembarking the aircraft in the UK. Permission may be granted remotely (without seeing a Border Force Officer) via email or telephone. If the responsible person is not contacted by Border Force, or is unsure whether any person onboard requires permission, they should contact the local Border Force team who will be able to provide assistance.

Failure to obtain permission to enter the UK may result in an individual entering the UK illegally and being subject to enforcement action. Additionally, if those on board require permission to enter the UK, the responsible person may be liable to a charge (carriers’ liability) of £2000 for each inadequately documented person carried on the aircraft. Further information about the immigration rules, visa requirements and carriers’ liability can be found on GOV.UK.

Customs requirements when travelling to the UK

All individuals on board an international GA flight need to ensure they comply with customs requirements when travelling to and from the UK. Certain goods are prohibited and restricted in the UK. There are heavy penalties for bringing prohibited or restricted goods into the UK.

Further information about customs requirements and prohibited and restricted goods

Personal Allowances

For more information, read Bringing goods into the UK for personal use.

For guidance and making online declarations for Merchandise in Baggage (under £1500), read Declare commercial goods you’re bringing into Great Britain in your accompanied baggage or a small vehicle.

Individuals flying from Great Britain to Northern Ireland do not need to declare goods if both of the following apply:

  • They are a UK resident

  • They have paid both VAT and excise duty (alcohol and tobacco only) on the goods in Great Britain

They need to declare your goods if any of the following apply:

  • They are not a UK resident

  • They have alcohol or tobacco over their allowance for Northern Ireland and excise duty has not been paid on the goods in Great Britain, or

  • They have goods worth more than £390 and have not paid VAT on them in Great Britain. See ‘Goods Reporting’ below.

Individuals travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain (England, Wales or

Scotland) do not have to declare any goods. However, they will need to pay Import VAT on any goods bought in Northern Ireland from shops offering taxfree shopping under the VAT Retail Export Scheme.

Goods reporting

An Entry Summary (ENS) declaration must be submitted to the Safety and Security GB (S&SGB) service for goods that are to be imported into or transiting through Great Britain from the rest of the world. In readiness for future reporting changes, goods, arriving in Great Britain from the EU can have their ENS declarations, voluntarily submitted into S&SGB.

Check if you need to make an ENS declaration.

Making an entry summary declaration

Details of this link for ENS and that for Merchandise in Baggage declarations can be found on the GAR template under ‘Reporting Goods’.

Project Pegasus - what to do if you see something suspicious

Project Pegasus is a joint initiative between Border Force, the National Crime Agency and the Police to counter the threats of smuggling, immigration crime and terrorism around the UK’s airfields. Pegasus is a public-facing campaign to raise awareness and promote the reporting of suspicious or unusual behaviour within the GA environment.

If you see anything suspicious:

  • contact your local police or

  • phone 0300 123 7000 and quote ‘Pegasus’ or

  • report online at gov.uk/report-border-crime and quote ’Pegasus’

  • In an emergency always call 999.

  • Further information can be found here

Channel Islands and the Isle of Man flights which do not involve the UK

The gov.uk sGAR service (including the GAR template), approved third-party applications and direct connections, must only to be used for international flights to and from the UK.

If you are flying to or from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man you should provide notification and declarations in accordance with the requirements of the authorities of those territories as described at the links below:

Annex A: Designated and Regulated aerodromes

  • Customs & Excise: C
  • Immigration: I
  • Police: P
  • Approved Aerodrome: R
  • Approved (Regulated Bespoke) Aerodrome : R*

This Annex lists Customs and Excise designated airports, immigration designated airports, police designated airports and approved aerodromes. Not all regulated aerodromes are listed in the tables below. Before planning to arrive or depart an aerodrome operators should contact the aerodrome owner to confirm if the aerodrome can handle international flights.

Airport C I P R
Aberdeen / Dyce - EGPD Yes Yes Yes No
Abergavenny Airfield, The Byre No No No Yes
Aboyne Deeside Gliding Club No No No Yes
Andrewsfield (Saling) Airfield - EGSL No No No Yes
Audley End Airfield No No No Yes
Bagby Airfield - EGNG No No No Yes
Battersea Aerodrome - EGLW No No No Yes
Bedford Aerodrome - EGBF No No No Yes
Belfast City -George Best - EGAC No No Yes Yes
Belfast International / Aldergrove - EGAA Yes Yes Yes No
Bembridge Airport - EGHJ No No No Yes
Benbecula Airstrip - EGPL No No No Yes
Berrow Airfield No No No Yes
Beverley (Linley Hill) Airfield - EGNY No No No Yes
Bideford, Lake Heliport No No No Yes
Bidford Gliding and Flying Club No No No Yes
Biggin Hill - EGKB Yes No Yes No
Birmingham - EGBB Yes Yes Yes No
Blackbushe Airport - EGLK No No No Yes
Blackpool Airport - EGNH Yes No Yes Yes
Bodmin Airfield - EGLA No No No Yes
Bognor - EGKC No No No Yes
Bolt Head Airfield No No No Yes
Bourne Airfield, The Ridings No No No Yes
Bournemouth / Hurn - EGHH Yes Yes Yes No
Bradwell Farm No No No Yes
Brands Hatch Helipad, West Kingsdown No No No Yes
Brands Hatch Place Hotel No No No Yes
Brimpton Airfield - EGLP No No No Yes
Bristol Lulsgate - EGGD Yes Yes Yes No
Buncton Barn Airfield No No No Yes
Bylaugh Hall Helipad No No No Yes
Caernarfon - EGCK No No No Yes
Cambridge - EGSC Yes No Yes No
Cardiff - EGFF Yes Yes Yes No
Cardiff Heliport - Tremorfa Heliport - EGFC No No No Yes
Castle Air Liskeard Helipad No No No Yes
Castle dairy Farm No No No Yes
Chalgrove Airfield *- EGLJ No No No Yes*
Chester Racecourse No No No Yes
Chilbolton, Stonefield Park No No No Yes
Church Farm, Shipmeadow No No No Yes
Clacton Aerodrome - EGSQ No No No Yes
Compton Abbas Airfield - EGHA No No No Yes
Coventry - EGBE Yes No Yes No
Cranfield Airport * - EGTC No No No Yes*
Crowfield Airfield - EGSO No No No Yes
Cumbernauld Airport - EGPG No No No Yes
Curry Rivel Airstrip No No No Yes
Deanland Airfield - EGKL No No No Yes
Deenethorpe No No No Yes
Denham Aerodrome - EGLD No No No Yes
Dundee Airport - EGPN No No No Yes
Dunkeswell - EGTU No No No Yes
Durham Teeside - EGVN Yes Yes Yes No
Duxford Airfield - EGSU No No No Yes
Earls Colne - EGSR No No No Yes
East Midlands - EGNX Yes Yes Yes No
Eddsfield, Octon Lodge No No No Yes
Edinburgh Airport - EGPH Yes Yes Yes No
Elmsett Airfield - EGST No No No Yes
Elstree - EGTR No No No Yes
Enniskillen (St Angelo) Airport - EGAB No No No Yes
Exeter Airport - EGTE Yes No Yes No
Fairoaks Airport - EGTF No No No Yes
Farnborough - EGLF Yes No No No
Farway Common Airfield, Moorlands Farm No No No Yes
Fawsley Hall Hotel No No No Yes
Field Farm, Fresh Air No No No Yes
Fowlmere - EGMA No No No Yes
Full Sutton Airfield - EGNU No No No Yes
Gamston Airfield - EGNE No No No Yes
Glasgow - EGPF Yes Yes Yes No
Glenforsa Airfield, Mull No No No Yes
Glenswinton, Castle Douglas No No No Yes
Gloucester (Staverton) Airport - EGBJ No No Yes Yes
Goodwood - EGHR No No No Yes
Hadfold farm, Adversane No No No Yes
Hamilton Farm Airstrip No No No Yes
Haverfordwest - EGFE No No No Yes
Hawarden Airport * - EGNR No No No Yes*
Hawksview No No No Yes
Headcorn / Lashenden - EGKH No No No Yes
Helix AV, Gateway Heliport, Manston No No No Yes
Henstridge Airfield - EGHS No No No Yes
High Ham No No No Yes
Hinton Airfield No No No Yes
Holmbeck Farm No No No Yes
Home Farm, Baynards Park No No No Yes
Hubbards Farm No No No Yes
Humberside / Kirmington - EGNJ Yes No Yes No
Hunterswood Farm No No No Yes
Inverness / Dalcross - EGPE Yes No No No
Kemble Airport * - EGBP No No No Yes*
Kirkwall Airport - EGPA No No No Yes
Kitesbridge Farm No No No Yes
Kittyhawk Aerodrome No No No Yes
Knoll House No No No Yes
Lands End - EGHC No No No Yes
Langlebury Fields Helipad, Model Farm No No No Yes
Lasham Airfield * - EGHL No No No Yes*
Leeds Bradford - EGNM Yes Yes Yes No
Leeds East Airport, Church Fenton - EGCM No No No Yes
Lee-on-Solent Airfield (Daedalus) - EGHF No No No Yes
Leicester Stoughton - EGBG No No No Yes
Little Gransden - EGMJ No No No Yes
Little Green Street Farm No No No Yes
Little Shelford No No No Yes
Little Snoring No No No Yes
Little Staughton No No No Yes
Liverpool - EGGP Yes Yes Yes Yes
London City - EGLC Yes No Yes No
London Gatwick - EGKK Yes Yes Yes No
London Heathrow - EGLL Yes Yes Yes No
London Luton - EGGW Yes Yes Yes No
London Stanstead - EGSS Yes Yes Yes No
Long Stratton No No No Yes
Ludham No No No Yes
Lydd / London Ashford- EGMD Yes No Yes No
Lydeway Field No No No Yes
Main Hall Farm No No No Yes
Mainey Wood No No No Yes
Manchester - EGCC Yes Yes Yes No
Manchester City / Barton - EGCB No No No Yes
Netherthorpe Airfield - EGNF No No No Yes
Newcastle - EGNT Yes Yes Yes No
Newport City Aerodrome - W254 No No No Yes
Newquay / St Mawgan- EGHQ Yes No No No
North Weald Airfield - EGSX No No No Yes
Northrepps Airfield No No No Yes
Norwich International - EGSH Yes Yes Yes No
Nottingham Tollerton - EGBN No No No Yes
Nutfield Priory No No No Yes
Oaksey Park Airfield - EGTW No No No Yes
Old Buckenham Airfield - EGSV No No No Yes
Old Quarry Farm No No No Yes
Old Sarum Airfield - EGLS No No No Yes
Otherton Airfield, Staffordshire Aero Club No No No Yes
Oxford (Kidlington) * - EGTK No No No Yes*
Parc Le Breos House Helipad No No No Yes
Pent Farm Airfield No No No Yes
Perranporth Airfield - EGTP No No No Yes
Perth Airport - EGPT No No No Yes
Pointon No No No Yes
Popham Airfield - EGHP No No No Yes
Portledge Helipad No No No Yes
Prestwick - EGPK Yes Yes Yes No
Priory Farm Airfield, Tibenham No No No Yes
Ranston Hill Farm No No No Yes
Redhill Aerodrome - EGKR No No No Yes
Redwood, West Meon No No No Yes
Rendcombe Aerodrome No No No Yes
Rhinefield House Hotel No No No Yes
RNAS Portland, HeliOperations - EGDP No No No Yes
Rochester Airport - EGTO No No No Yes
Ronaldsway / Isle of Man - EGNS Yes Yes No No
Rookery Hall Hotel No No No Yes
Sandown Airport - EGHN No No No Yes
Sandtoft - EGCF No No No Yes
Selham Lodge No No No Yes
Sherburn In Elmet - EGCJ No No No Yes
Shipley Airfield No No No Yes
Shobdon Airfield - EGBS No No No Yes
Shoreham - EGKA Yes No No No
Sibson Aerodrome - EGSP No No No Yes
Skegness Airfield - EGNI No No No Yes
Sleap Airport, Shropshire Aero Club - EGCV No No No Yes
Southampton International / Eastleigh - EGHI Yes Yes Yes No
Southend - EGMC Yes Yes Yes No
Southside Landing Site at Enstone Aerodrome No No No Yes
St Mary’s Airport, Scilly Isles - EGHE No No No Yes
Stanbrook Abbey Hotel No No No Yes
Stapleford - EGSG No No No Yes
Stone Cottage Airfield, Pettistree No No No Yes
Stones Farm Airfield, Wickham St Paul No No No Yes
Stornoway * - EGPO No No No Yes*
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome No No No Yes
Strubby North Airfield - EGCG No No No Yes
Sturgate - EGCS No No No Yes
Sumburgh - EGPB Yes No No No
Sunnyside Farm No No No Yes
Swansea Airport - EGFH No No No Yes
Sywell *- EGBK No No No Yes*
Tatenhill Airfield - EGBM No No No Yes
The Old Rectory, Little Cressingham No No No Yes
Thruxton Airport - EGHO No No No Yes
Tiiffenden Airfield No No No Yes
Turweston - EGBT No No No Yes
Wadswick Airfield No No No Yes
Wellesbourne - EGBW No No No Yes
Welshpool - EGCW No No No Yes
Westonzoyland No No No Yes
West Wales (Ceredigion) EGFA No No No Yes
Weybourne Airfield No No No Yes
White Waltham - EGLM No No No Yes
Wick Airport * - EGPC No No No Yes*
Wickenby Aerodrome - EGNW No No No Yes
Williamstrip Hall No No No Yes
Wolverhampton - EGBO No No No Yes
Wycombe Air Park* - EGTB No No No Yes*
Yeovil Aerodrome * EGHG No No No Yes*

Annex B: Police Force contact details

Responsible persons carrying passengers for reward must seek approval from the local police force geographically closest to the place of arrival or departure.

County/Area Phone Email
Avon & Somerset 0127 864 7144 CTPSWControlDesk@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Bedfordshire 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
Cambridgeshire 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
Cheshire 01606 362121 small.ports.unit@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
Cleveland 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Cumbria 01768 215058 CTBIntel@cumbria.police.uk
Derbyshire 0116 248 5812 ctp-em-ema@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Devon & Cornwall 0127 864 7144 CTPSWControlDesk@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Dorset 0127 864 7144 CTPSWControlDesk@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Durham 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Dyfed Powys 01348 871968 dpp.portsinfo@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk
Essex 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
Gloucestershire 0127 864 7144 CTPSWControlDesk@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Greater London – Including Battersea Heliport and City Airport Biggin Hill and RAF Northolt 02082 177600 SO15-bigginhillairport@met.pnn.police.uk
Greater Manchester 01618 560270 PortUnit.Terminal2Airport@gmp.pnn.police.uk
Gwent 01446 450515 Cardiffairportgroup@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Hampshire & IOW 07789 745410 General.aviation.se@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Hertfordshire 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
Humberside 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Kent 01303 297320 allports@kent.police.uk
Lancashire 01253 604166 heyshamsb@lancashire.pnn.police.uk
Leicestershire & Northamptonshire 0116 248 5812 ctp-em-ema@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Lincolnshire 0116 248 5812 ctp-em-ema@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Merseyside 01519 071223 Airport.SB@merseyside.pnn.police.uk
Norfolk 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
North - Wales 01407 724444 CSHolyheadPortJIC@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
North Yorkshire 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Northern Ireland 02890 650222 ZPortsRCD@PSNI.Police.UK
Northumbria - Tyne & Wear 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Nottinghamshire 0116 248 5812 ctp-em-ema@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Scotland (Border Policing Command) – Edinburgh Airport 01313 353501 SCDBPCIntelligenceEdinburgh@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Scotland (Border Policing Command) Glasgow and Prestwick Airports 01415 326087 SCDBPCIntelligenceGlasgow@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Scotland (Border Police Command) – Aberdeen Airport 01224 305556 SCDBPCPortsUnitAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk
South - Wales 01446 450515 Cardiffairportgroup@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
South Yorkshire 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Staffordshire 01217 126098 general_aviation@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Suffolk 01582 394222 EasternGARs@beds.police.uk
Surrey 01273 404524 ctpsercd@sussex.police.uk
Sussex 01273 404524 ctpsercd@sussex.police.uk
Thames Valley 07789 745410 general.aviation.se@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Warwickshire 01217 126098 general_aviation@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
West Midlands 01217 126098 general_aviation@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
West Yorkshire 01274 471436 ctbordersne@ctpne.police.uk
Wiltshire 0127 864 7144 CTPSWControlDesk@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Police Service Northern Ireland 02890 259106 ZPortsRCD@psni.police.uk

Annex C: Reporting GA Flights

The table below provides guidance for owners or agents and captains on reporting international flights (including within the Common Travel Area).

Flights operating to and from the UK from all locations except from within the Common Travel Area

Border Force

You are required to submit a GAR no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure via the gov.uk sGAR service, an approved third-party application or by using a direct connection as listed on gov.uk.

Flights operating to and from the UK and Ireland, and the UK and the Channel Islands

Border Force

You are required to submit a GAR no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure via the gov.uk sGAR service, an approved third-party application or by using a direct connection as listed on gov.uk.

Police

If a flight is not operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated you must notify the police. You can comply with this requirement by submitting GAR via the gov.uk s-GAR service, an approved third-party application or by using a direct connection as listed on gov.uk. To comply with the General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024 and the Terrorism Act requirement a GAR must be submitted no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 12 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure.

If the flight is operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated, you must seek prior approval from a Police Examining Officer.

Flights operating to and from the UK and the Isle of Man

Border Force

You are required to submit a GAR no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure via the gov.uk sGAR service, an approved third-party application or by using a direct connection as listed on gov.uk.

Police

If a flight is not operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated you must notify the police. You must send a separate notification to the local police force via email no later than 12 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure.

If the flight is operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated, you must seek prior approval from a Police Examining Officer.

Flights operating to and from the UK and Northern Ireland

Border Force

This is a domestic journey. A GAR submission to Border Force is not required.

Police

If a flight is not operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated you must notify the police. You must send a notification to the local police force via email no later than 12 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure.

If the flight is operating for reward and the aerodrome is not police designated, you must seek prior approval from a Police Examining Officer.

If the departing and arriving port is not designated you must send separate notifications to each local police force via email no later than 12 hours prior to the aircraft’s expected time of departure.

  1. The Common Travel Area comprises the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and Ireland. 

  2. With the exception of domestic flights and flights to and from the UK and the Isle of Man information is shared under the statutory duty to share information in section 36 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 

  3. Paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 

  4. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/3113 

  5. Please note that third party applications may incur a service/membership charge. 

  6. NCU is the HMRC National Coordination Unit