AOPA sGAR Issues Report
AOPA have raised several issues regarding the UK General Aviation Report process with the Home Office Border Force. Many of the issues raised are either anecdotal or lack sufficient detail for the Home Office to use to improve the process.
As a result of our concern, the Home Office have updated their guidance for the General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024 (‘the 2024 Regulations’): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-aviation-operators-and-pilots-notification-of-flights
The 2024 regulations have been in place from 6 months and the Home Office, along with Border Force, have reviewed the process and made changes to how the penalty regime is operated by the National Penalties Unit. From Monday 21st October, updated Civil Penalties Guidance will be published on gov.uk.
The updated process will mean the responsible person will receive at least one warning notice before moving onto the civil penalty scale in the event of non-compliance. To give owners, agents and captains the opportunity to explain the reasons for the breach occurring, they will be able to submit representations explaining why a warning or penalty notice should not be issued.
Additionally, Border Force are engaging with airfield owners and operators via email and telephone as well as visiting aerodrome visits to remind them about the requirements of the 2024 Regulations.
In response to the feedback received the GAR reporting annexes (C-F) have been consolidated into a single annex – making this more straightforward for owners, agents and captains to follow. It also includes guidance on in-flight diversions which has been incorporated thanks to feedback from AOPA.
In order to collect suffcient details for any new issues we have created the AOPA sGAR Issues Report form below.
The form is available for any GA Pilot who has experienced an issue to report it to AOPA. If the issue relates to an encounter with Border Force Officers please include a note of the badge numbers and names of the officer/s involved. This will help the Home Office establish if there are local procedural issues or a need for further training and guidance for Officers.
When raising issues with the Home Office AOPA will not reveal any personal details included in the Report unless you have agreed for these details to be made known.
- Only submit a GAR through online services approved by the UK Border Force. Be wary of any other non-UK online GENDEC, or similar services, even if they claim to send your GAR to the UK.
- If you are delayed, need to depart early or need to divert be aware of the guidance and comply with it. In many cases you will need to re-submit yoru GAR.
- If you arrive well ahead of your estimated arrival time you, and all passengers, should stay with the aircraft until the estimated time of arrival if Border Force are not in attendance on arrival.
- Ensure that all the details entered correctly match those of the passport, or other ID document. It has been reported that BF Officers have taken a heavy handed attitude and threatened prosecution for incorrect details. Check the passport/id numbers and the holders name are an exact match. Save details for future use if the service you use has this facility.