21 June 2023
Flight-sharing service Wingly, which puts pilots in touch with people willing to share the costs of a flight, is in danger of being forced to close because of a proposed change to regulations.
The UK CAA is revising the regulations on cost-sharing with the aim of deterring so-called ‘grey’ charter operations such as the one when footballer Emiliano Sala died in 2019.
However, one proposed amendment would restrict pilots to only flying when they were already scheduled to fly. That would mean it will become illegal for private pilots to publish details of flights they regularly enjoy and indicate their availability to fly with passengers who are interested in joining them and sharing the costs.
As a result, Wingly’s services, which have been available in the UK for the past eight years and used by 8,500 private pilots and 125,000 passengers, will become obsolete.
Wingly has just started flying electric aircraft as part of its service
A statement from Wingly said, “The CAA has been diligently revising the cost sharing regulations with the aim of deterring illegal grey chartering following the highly publicised Sala accident.
“While the CAA’s intentions behind their proposals are commendable, they will most likely inadvertently render illegal harmless private flights and potentially force the closure of digital cost-sharing platforms like Wingly, despite the fact that such consequences are unintended by the regulator.
“Private pilots in the UK will therefore no longer have access to the same services and benefits they previously enjoyed compared to their counterparts in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland where Wingly is widely used.”
Martin Robinson, CEO of AOPA UK, added, “Platforms such as Wingly offer positive benefits for GA and we know that many people have benefitted. “The tragic event involving the footballer was an illegal public transport flight in a foreign registered aircraft. The organiser of the flight was found guilty and was given a custodial sentence following a successful investigation and prosecution by the CAA.”
According to Wingly, “The CAA acknowledges the significant safety advantages associated with cost-sharing platforms and is actively engaging in discussions with Wingly and the AOPA to reach an agreeable solution.
“Wingly remains vigilant and continues to advocate for pilots’ rights as the final proposals have not been published yet. The DfT is meant to be producing a Statutory Instrument by November 2023.”
FLYER has asked the UK CAA for a response.
1 comment
Advertising A-to-A opportunites is one thing, no different to the old “looking for passengers” notes pinned to the club noticeboard. But what I really object to is Wingly’s attitude to advertising open A-to-B flights, and more critically, potential passengers listing A-to-B flights that they want to do. That is jumping over the line from cost-sharing air experience flights to brokering charters.