Originally Posted by
Ultranomad
I am surprised nobody has mentioned that flying a private aircraft instead of a common carrier would provide virtually no advantage in terms of visa avoidance in Europe, if one is otherwise required to have a visa.
I know the US has the Visa Waiver Program for EU citizens. If you are an EU citizen, if you are visiting for short-term business or tourism, and
if you are arriving on a commercial carrier, you can enter the country without a formal visa. (ESTA notwithstanding.)
The "commercial carrier" is important. If the friendly immigration officer at the border determines you're not eligible to enter the country under the VWP, then the carrier, by contract, has to take you back to the point of origin outside the US. This is the reason that you cannot enter the US under the VWP if you're flying on a private aircraft: The immigration officer cannot force a PIC to take off and leave the country, as that would violate FAA rules.
Does anybody know if the EU has similar restrictions? Because in that case, it would actually more onerous to arrive in the EU on a private aircraft, compared to a commercial airliner.