PSNI General Aviation Procedures
PSNI General Aviation Procedures for Captains and Pilots visiting undesignated ports in Northern Ireland
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, specifically Section 12 (3) (b) requires the Captain / Pilot of an aircraft to give at least 12 hours notice, in writing to the PSNI for all flights arriving or departing at any undesignated port in Northern Ireland, to or from another part of the common travel area.
(An undesignated port can be explained as one which a Captain / Pilot could not reasonably expect to be met by Police or UKBA. In Northern Ireland the designated ports are Belfast City Airport (George Best Airport), Belfast International Airport and City of Derry Airport, Londonderry.)
This means any flights crossing from one part of the common travel area into another using undesignated ports will require the submission of a General Aviation Report (GAR). For the purposes of this Act the Common Travel Area includes flights from Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Eire, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
It is an offence to fail to comply with this regulation.
General Aviation Report Form
Download a General Aviation Report (GAR) (MS Word, 622.0 KB)
Download a General Aviation Report (GAR) from the HM Revenue & Customs website
In addition to the current procedure of forwarding reports to the National Customs Unit,
Email the National Customs Unit: ncu@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Fax: 087 0240 3738
Telephone: 087 0785 3600
The PSNI require a copy of any completed GAR relating to Northern Ireland / Common Travel area flight. In all cases this should be forwarded to Police Belfast Regional Control by email or fax.
Email Belfast Regional Control: GAR@psni.pnn.police.uk
Fax: 028 9090 1242
There is NO REQUIREMENT to submit a General Aviation Report to the PSNI for flights to any designated airport in Northern Ireland.
If your flight does not leave the confines of Northern Ireland there is NO REQUIREMENT to submit a General Aviation Report.
Only in exceptional circumstances can changes to this 12 hour rule be made and will require resubmission of a new general aviation report, in full, with updated details. Resubmitted GARs will be subject to severe scrutiny.
For more information contact:
Police Service for Northern Ireland
Ports Unit
C/O Headquarters
Brooklyn
65 Knock Road
Belfast
BT5 6LE
Tel: 0845 600 8000
Email SmallPortsUnit@psni.pnn.police.uk
