Form

General aviation operators and pilots notification of flights

Submit a general aviation report (GAR) online if you are a pilot or carrier of a general aviation aircraft intending to travel to or from the UK.

Documents

Submit a general aviation report (GAR) online

General aviation report form

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General aviation guidance

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Details

Reporting requirements

An operator or pilot of a general aviation aircraft is required to report international or Channel Islands journeys to or from the UK, in accordance with the Passenger Information Directions made under sections 35 and 64 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

Even if pilots and operators are not required to provide notification of a flight, it is helpful if they do provide this notification.

You should read the General Aviation Guidance before you submit information about your flight.

An operator or pilot of a flight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or between Great Britain or Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Channel Islands or Isle of Man is required, in the circumstances specified in paragraph 12 of schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, to provide a notification of the flight to the police.

Apply online

Pilots and carriers can use the GOV.UK submit a GAR online service to provide details of flights.

Submit your form by email

You can also download the attached GAR form, complete it electronically and submit by email to the national co-ordination unit (NCU) to send to Border Force or the police.

You should title your email: ‘GAR, airfield registration, name of airfield, postcode of airfield (if known)’. Please check the attached guidance before completing and submitting the GAR form.

Alternatively, you can use other approved websites to submit GAR information. These are not government services and you may incur a service charge.

We are aware these publications may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing them so that we can fix these.

Read more about our accessible documents policy.

Published 21 March 2013
Last updated 2 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the general aviation guidance to the January 2024 version. Removed the emergency general aviation report telephone line poster and aerodrome designation status.

  2. Updated the general aviation report form and guidance.

  3. Updates made to Aerodrome Designation Status to reflect changes to non-customs and excise aerodromes following EU Exit.

  4. Added accessible version.

  5. Updated general aviation report guidance: annexes updated (GAR reporting) to reflect new customs reporting requirements from 1 January 2022.

  6. Changes to wording to better communicate the requirements alongside providing links to Public Health Measures.

  7. Updated changes to reflect end of EU transition.

  8. Added a new general aviation report form for use after 31 December 2020.

  9. Added aerodrome designation status.

  10. We have updated the email addresses for Surrey and Sussex police in the general aviation report guidance document.

  11. We have updated the contact telephone number in the general aviation report guidance.

  12. You can now submit a GAR online.

  13. General aviation report guidance updated.

  14. Updated general aviation report guidance published.

  15. Removed general aviation reporting flyer.

  16. Updated general aviation report guidance.

  17. Updated aviation poster.

  18. Updated guidance.

  19. Updated guidance.

  20. Updated guidance.

  21. New document on expectations of airfield operators

  22. Updated general aviation report guidance

  23. Updated documents

  24. Updated guidance.

  25. Updated general aviation report (GAR) form which can be sent to the police through the HMRC national co-ordination unit (NCU) providing a single submission point for general aviation report forms. The GAR guidance is also updated to include a summary describing Border Force’s expectations of airfield operators in relation to general aviation flights.

  26. First published.