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Which countries have a law requiring you to actively seek out the police, at airports?

I have an actual report from somebody I know, from some months ago.

He departed EDDW. Did the PN but the police never showed up. 2 months later he got a letter threatening a fine up to €5000. Eventually he settled at a fine of €200+. He paid this to avoid further problems. The police claimed that it was his duty to go and find them.

Apparently all international airports in Germany have a computer system which informs the Bundespolizei, when you give the PN to leave the airport by plane. But not in EDDW.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

There are recent reports from Belgium, at least 3 UK pilots have recently been asked to pay 400E fines this year as “they did not go to see the police before departing” (they saw the customs & the operator), this seems like game between customs & police in Antwerp EBAW?

On the original topic of the relevant law extracts in Belgian regulations, some are here in French (and in Dutch as official language), the fine seems to be limited to 200Euros though in Art4bis? (if you ignore 1year prison & 4 million euros fines in Art32, no one flies with so much money in his pockets?? surely someone is just exaggerating)

Also the national Belgian law does not make distinction between customs and police? but EU law, Regulation (EC) No 562/2006, clearly says the matter of immigration in/out of Belgium is 100% federale politie…

4bis 1980

32 1937

15 DECEMBRE 1980. – Loi sur l’accès au territoire, le séjour, l’établissement et l’éloignement des étrangers.

27 JUIN 1937. – Loi portant révision de la loi du 16 novembre 1919 relative à la réglementation de la navigation aérienne

Last Edited by Ibra at 07 May 16:01
Paris/Essex, France/UK, United Kingdom

this seems like game between customs & police in Antwerp EBAW?

Probably, but how can one avoid this trap?

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

No idea it’s a bottle neck…I am not sure anyone has a solution? clear customs & police in “grown up places”, Ostend?

Last Edited by Ibra at 07 May 16:09
Paris/Essex, France/UK, United Kingdom

Austria:

Clearly intended for major airports, no idea if there is an exemption from flying to non-designated airports available.

2. ENTRY TO AND EXIT FROM AIRFIELDS
2.1. Entry from memberstates of the European Union into the ter- ritory of Austria/exit from the territory of Austria into a member- state of the European Union is permitted to and from all Austrian airfields.

2.2. Under consideration of the regulations concerning customs – and immigration entry from non-memberstates of the European Union into the territory of Austria/exit from the territory of Austria into non-memberstates of the European Union is permitted to and from the following airfields.
Dobersberg
Eferding
Hubschrauberflugplatz Feldkirch
Feldkirchen-Ossiacher See
Ferlach-Glainach
Freistadt
Friesach-Hirt
Fürstenfeld
Gmunden
Goldeck Talstation
Hofkirchen
Hohenems-Dornbirn
Hubschrauberflugplatz Glock-Ferlach
Kapfenberg
Kirchdorf-Micheldorf
Krems-Langenlois
Kufstein-Langkampfen
Lanzen-Turnau
Hubschrauberflugplatz Leier Baustoffe – Horitschon Leoben-Timmersdorf
Lienz-Nikolsdorf
Hubschrauberflugplatz Ludesch
Mariazell
Mayerhofen
Niederöblarn
Nötsch im Gailtal
Pinkafeld
Pöchlarn-Wörth
Punitz-Güssing
Reutte-Höfen
Ried-Kirchheim
St. Andrä im Lavanttal
St. Donat-Mairist
St. Georgen am Ybbsfeld
St. Johann/Tirol
Scharnstein
Schärding-Suben
Hubschrauberflugplatz Schruns “Sanatorium Dr. Schenk” Seitenstetten
Spitzerberg
Stockerau
Trieben
Hubschrauberflugplatz Villach LKH Völtendorf
Vöslau
Weiz-Unterfladnitz
Wels
Wr. Neustadt/Ost
Wolfsberg
Hubschrauberflugplatz Wucher Zürs – Lech am Arlberg Zell am See
Hubschrauberflugplatz Zwatzhof

2.3. In the case of flights to or from States which are not mem- bers of the European Union, as well as to or from States which are not Contracting States pursuant to § 1 para 6 of the Border Control Act (Note: = Schengen), the pilot in command shall transmit the following data to the operator of the airfield concerned at the latest prior to departure, in the case of flights out of the airfield at the latest one hour prior to departure:
2.3.1. registration mark and type of aircraft,
2.3.2. the immediately used aerodrome before entering the terri- tory of Austria and the aerodrome of intended landing immedi- ately to be used after leaving the territory of Austria respectively,
2.3.3. the airfield intended for landing on Austrian federal terri- tory
2.3.4. the estimated time of arrival and departure,
2.3.5. names, dates of birth and nationality of the pilot in com- mand and the passengers.
2.4. Pilots of rescue flights shall transmit the data
(2.3.1. -2.3.5.)
as soon as possible, but no later than immediately after returning to the base of the rescue organisation.

2.5. The operator of the aerodrome shall immediately report the data received

(2.3.1. -2.3.5.)

by telephone, fax, in electronic form or in any other technically feasible manner to the locally compe- tent reporting office for air traffic services, the security service locally competent for passport control and the locally competent customs office. Furthermore, he shall keep records of all data transmitted and retain them for one year.

2.6. For entry and departure to and from airfields on Austrian ter- ritory which are not listed under item 2.2., an exceptional permis- sion is required for flights from/to non-memberstates of the European Union, as well as from and to states which are not contracting states according to §1 para. 6 of the Border Control Act. These permissions are to be obtained from Austro Control GmbH/Aviation agency, subject to further customs and border control regulations.
2.7. The regulations on the flight plan remain unaffected.

Last Edited by Snoopy at 07 May 18:13
always learning
LO__, Austria

no idea if there is an exemption from flying to non-designated airports available.

That’s irrelevant to the topic.

If you comply with the AIP requirements (PN etc) and the police do not turn up, can you arrive or depart without committing a criminal offence?

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Peter wrote:

If you comply with the AIP requirements (PN etc) and the police do not turn up, can you arrive or depart without committing a criminal offence?

Yes.

2.3.4. the estimated time of arrival and departure,

Obviously, in case of unforeseen tailwinds, you’d have to remain there until ETA and not leave e.g. 30 minutes earlier.

Now, at airports it is different. There is no requirement for PN. You need to actively report e.g. a non EU/non Schengen arrival and ask for customs and immigration. If you simply walk out… it’s formally not ok (albeit I think in 9999/10000 times nothing would ever come of it).

always learning
LO__, Austria

Now, at airports it is different. There is no requirement for PN

Do you mean

“Now, at airports it is different, IF is no requirement for PN” ?

If there is a PN then the interpretation would be

  • you have to give the PN to the police, AND
  • if they ignore it, you have to chase around until you find them

which is ridiculous (as well as incredibly arrogant, etc). But this is the case in some places for sure – as reported in this thread.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Airports = police/customs are based. However, if they are not at their post, you can’t simply walk out. You need to identify as having landed from outside EU and or outside Schengen.

Airfields as listed above: You give PN to the airfield operator. If police do not show up during ETA you may leave.

always learning
LO__, Austria

Peter wrote:

The police claimed that it was his duty to go and find them.

I’m absolutely sure this was not what the letter from the prosecutor really said. In Germany the situation is quite simple and based on common sense: When you arrive (or depart) you have to make reasonable effort to meet the police. No, that does absolutely not mean …
Peter wrote:

you have to chase around until you find them

… but it obviously does include that you ask e.g. at the GAT if/where have seen the police. It’s neither that you have to chase the police nor that you just have to run fast enough and are fine to leave without inspection.

Germany
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