In the latest move by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with its continued commitment to supporting and encouraging a dynamic recreational GA sector, the rules governing when certain pilots can carry a passenger have been amended.

As part of its response to the Government’s General Aviation (GA) Red Tape Challenge, and its ongoing work to ensure that the regulation of GA is more proportionate, the CAA has changed the requirement for some private pilots to have completed three take offs and landings in the previous 90 days before they can fly with a passenger.

The new exemption means that private pilots with a UK (not EASA) pilot licence or a National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) can now fly as pilot in command with a single passenger who is themselves a suitably qualified pilot, without having completed the three take offs and landings in 90 days.

The new rule states that in order to use the exemption the pilot must:

• be satisfied that the passenger is qualified to act as pilot in command on the intended flight but that they understand that they are onboard only as a passenger.

• take note that in order for a pilot to use the flight to regain currency they must be the pilot in command for the flight. The pilot and passenger should be clear on this prior to the flight.

• inform the intended passenger that they do not have the recency which, without this exemption, would be required to fly with a passenger.

Providing these criteria are met, the exemption provides automatic approval with no need for any application to the CAA.

Details of the full exemption and the CAA’s work through its GA programme can be seen at www.caa.co.uk/ga

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