Thanks for the update. That really clarified it to me.
dublinpilot wrote:
Slight correction on that. Previously you did not need a CoA for NI or Rep of Ireland. You did for the Channel Islands as they was outside the EU.
Thanks, my mistake. I thought they needed at CofA due to being CTA, but actually it was the longer notice period (12hrs) that they had in common (and still do, so I suppose another correction to my note above) with the Channel Islands.
Graham wrote:
It has greatly improved things for travel to from the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and Ireland itself. Previously you needed a Certificate of Agreement airfield for this
Slight correction on that. Previously you did not need a CoA for NI or Rep of Ireland. You did for the Channel Islands as they was outside the EU.
Yes, it’s now 2hrs before departure.
You can now use a GAR to fly to/from literally anywhere in the UK, including any sort of farm strip or private site. As part of tidying up the arrangements post-Brexit, Border Force have issued a blanket interim Certificate of Agreement that covers all airfields of any sort (below the ones that are C&I designated, which don’t need it anyway) and allows flight with a GAR to/from anywhere. It runs until 31 Dec 2023, by which time airfields are expected to have their own individual certificates of agreement in place.
It has greatly improved things for travel to from the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and Ireland itself. Previously you needed a Certificate of Agreement airfield for this, which in practice meant somewhere with a manned office/desk during published opening hours, e.g. White Waltham was one, but Enstone was not. It basically ruled out unattended airfields and strips. Now under the interim arrangements everything is, for the next 18 months, promoted into this Certificate of Agreement category.
The relevant publication is poorly drafted and open to interpretation (of course) but I have my interpretation above (any airfield, good for anywhere) confirmed in writing by Border Force. SkyDemon had interpreted it incorrectly and were warning users when they planned certain routes that the flight was ‘Not Permitted by UK Border Force’. I have raised it with them – they got the same confirmation from Border Force and have updated the software to remove these warnings.
The confirmation I received:
Good afternoon,
Apologies in delay in responding, your email has been passed to us by colleagues in HMRC to respond to.
1. Yes we can confirm that the interim blanket approval to 31st December 2023, covers all airfields.
2. Yes that blanket approval permits flights to and from the Channel islands.
Kind regards
National Operations General Aviation Team
National Operational Headquarters | 10th Floor | Apollo House | Wellesley Road | Croydon | CR9 3RR
You don’t necessarily need to land in customs airports in the UK for private flights (scheduled flights or import flights have to go to Customs & Excise designated airport like Lydd though), if it’s a temporary visit from EU by private aircraft, the GAR is enough to land in any airport or strip
Damyns Hall has temporary certificate of agreement now untill +2024, I flown there 3 months ago (and many times before from France), the post-brexit COA allows the following kind of flights in my screenshots
No need to go via Southend, Lydd and Biggin…however, if you do you still have to file GAR regardless and comply with it’s notice period even if C+I are 24h, also UK airports AIP entries have some additional requirements that are not up to date with the guidance
Just one more question. I know this has probably been covered elsewhere here to death but Lydd is a customs/immigration field according to the AIP when they are open. Can’t I just clear into the UK by first flying into Lydd, Southend or Biggin Hill first before flying later that day into Damyns Hall? Or do I have to fill In and submit a GAR form in those cases as well? And also x hours before departing to the UK?
Trying to get PPR permission for Damyns Hall
I see you found it, yes there is the website form to ppr (no one read it or care, it’s for ULM? or Microlight? or for CAA consumption?) you get a receipt by email and it’s enough
If you need operational info you can contact Tiger Club, the +800m grass is ok for SR22 if you stick to 21 for takeoff and 03 for landing with dry conditions, if you land on 21 or takeoff 03 there is slope and don’t fly straight final or departure, it’s ok to land before 21 displaced threshold, it’s only there for the pylons…
Landing is 5£-10£ and can be paid by card, parking is free I think?
It’s ok for Mooneys & Diamonds, not sure about DA62 though 
Yes, it is EBOS which I corrected by email. Thanks for the advise given. Yes, EDDL is expensive. I need a quick turn around customs airfield back to Essen as I have guests coming over for dinner in the evening and am still on a guided tour of the British Museum until Sunday noon, and have to deal with the 1 hr difference in time between UK and continental Europe. Life is tough! EHMZ might be a faster turn around and cheaper :-)
