DIY FLIGHT PLANNING – SE England Area!
REF: UK AIP ENR 1-10 Flight Planning/Pooleys pages 657-660
We are so used to relying on our airfield ATSUs to process our flight plans and customs/immigration clearance forms that many of us struggle to know what goes on ‘behind the curtains’. This piece was written in 2003 when I was flying from a non-ATSU field and is still valid today.You have to notify at least three, possibly four, separate authorities using the two forms which you normally submit to the airfield ATSU who distributes them as required.
FLIGHT PLAN (CA48)
- Flight Briefing Unit (FBU) HEATHROW
GENERAL AVIATION REPORT
- HM Customs – National Co-ordination Unit (NCU) (equates to ‘Notice of Intended Flight’)
- Home Office Immigration – Heathrow
- Special Branch – Oxford (for travel to and from the ‘Common Travel Area’ of Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic)
In the absence of an ATSU, the completed forms must be faxed to the individual addressees (see numbers below). Telephone enquiry numbers for each receiving unit are also provided. If you can’t get to a fax, Customs can now receive forms by e-mail on ncu@hmce.gsi.gov.uk but other addressees can be contacted only by fax or by telephone.
NOTES
FLIGHT PLAN (CA48)- file at least 60 minutes before start-up time (see UK AIP ENR 1-10-1 to 1-10-9)
To activate Flight Plan either get someone trustworthy to notify Heathrow FBU after take-off (Tel: 020 8745 3111), or when airborne ask the appropriate FIR to activate the flight plan with HEATHROW giving them your departure time. A flight plan cannot be activated until you are airborne. On return you must telephone Heathrow FBU within 30 minutes to close your return Flight Plan. FLIGHT PLAN CA48 can be downloaded from www.ais.org.uk.
GENERAL AVIATION REPORT – CUSTOMS – for EU destinations, file at least 4 hours before intended return. For Non-EU destinations 24 hours before departure to or return from, incl the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Irish Republic.
Customs may meet you on your return. If they decide to do so they will be waiting at the airfield. If you arrive back earlier than planned you may be expected not to unpack the aircraft, and crew and passengers not to leave the airfield until after your scheduled arrival time. Otherwise you are free to follow your submitted flight plan. The alternative is to route through a Customs airfield and register on the spot.
GENERAL AVIATION REPORT – IMMIGRATION – for EU destinations, file at least 4 hours before intended return. For Non-EU destinations 24 hours before departure to or return from non-EU destinations, incl. the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Irish Republic.
GENERAL AVIATION REPORT – SPECIAL BRANCH for the ‘Common Travel Area’ only
Special Branch require the same information as Customs and Immigration, but at least 12 hours before intended departure, or 24 hours at busy periods like weekends – see Pooleys pages 657-660. If a Special Branch officer visits the airfield to check you before departure or on arrival, he will ask you and your crew/passengers to complete Embarkation and/or Landing cards for his records, otherwise you are free to depart and arrive according to your pre-notified plan. The alternative is to route through a Special Branch airfield and register on the spot.
AIRCRAFT DOCUMENTATION – Remember to take the aircraft documents with you. [Especially VAT certificates. Especially if going to France. - Ed.]
FUEL DUTY DRAWBACK – You can recover £0.28 per litre on all fuel exported
CONTACT NUMBERS:
FBU Heathrow: Fax: 020 8745 3491, Tel: 020 8745 3111
HMCustoms NCU: Fax: 0870 240 3738, Tel: 0870 785 3600, e-mail: ncu@hmce.gsi.gov.uk General Enqu: 02380 797 089
Immigration Heathrow: Fax: 020 8745 6943, Tel: 020 8745 6941
Special Branch Oxford: Fax: 01865 855 741, Tel: 01865 855 743, General Enqu: 01753 835 47
PURTAM 023 ENDS
Disclaimer: The author of these missives makes no guarantee of the accuracy of these notices, and advises all readers to check the facts for themselves using the information provided.
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