29 February 2024
Pilots have said: “hands off cost-sharing flights” according to a report published today by the CAA.
The report summarises responses to a CAA consultation on possible changes to the way cost-sharing flights are advertised.
To the key question, “Do you agree that the advertising element of the current cost-sharing regulations should be reviewed and amended?” more than 83% of the pilots responding said “no”.
Furthermore, a whopping 85% respondents said a resounding “no” to the CAA question: “Prior to the UK joining EASA, the advertising of a cost-sharing flight was prohibited outside of a flying club environment. Would you support a return to those requirements regarding the advertising of cost-sharing flights?”
Respondents went on to say the CAA’s proposed wording for a change was not “clear and easy to follow”.
However, respondents did agree that an advertisement for a flight should include details such as:
The response to the consultation was a good sized sample with 1817 individual and 575 additional comments.
The CAA said, “We are grateful for the submissions received and acknowledge that the majority of stakeholders who responded are against our proposed changes to the advertising element of the cost-sharing regulations.
“We have decided to revise our final policy position and will be providing our formal opinion to the Department of Transport (DfT) shortly.
“With regards to the advertising of cost-sharing flights, our proposed changes to the regulation will be as follows, (please note the below is not the final regulation wording, the DfT are responsible for the final wording of the regulation):
Cost-sharing flights may be advertised. The advertisement must be placed by the pilot intending to operate the flight and must include the start and end locations, the date when the pilot is available to conduct the flight, and any other information prescribed by the CAA.
The CAA also plans to publish Guidance Material, CAP documents, Acceptable Means of Compliance and, if applicable, Alternative Means of Compliance which will provide pilots and the public with further information.
Click here for the full report
