The following extract from the GAR form is pretty clear.
CUSTOMS RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF AIRFIELD
1. CUSTOMS OR DESIGNATED E.G. SOUTHAMPTON, BIGGIN HILL, LIVERPOOL
2. GENERAL AVIATION AGREEMENT AERODROMES (GAA) E.G. GOODWOOD, ELSTREE
3. PRIVATE AIRFIELDS AND HELIPADS
4. MILITARY (NOT COVERED IN THIS DOCUMENT)
1. AT A DESIGNATED AIRFIELD YOU MAY ARRIVE AND DEPART WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION TO CUSTOMS ( THIS RULE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ). YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A GAR PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND ALSO ON ARRIVAL FROM FOREIGN.
2. AT A GAA AIRFIELD YOU CAN FLY TO AND FROM ANYWHERE, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERING PERIODS OF PRIOR NOTIFICATION REQUIRED DEPENDING ON YOUR DESTINATION/DEPARTURE POINT.
OUTWARDS – TO ANOTHER EU COUNTRY THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO ADVISE CUSTOMS OF YOUR DEPARTURE.
OUTWARDS – TO A NON-EU COUNTRY (INC CHANNEL ISLANDS*) YOU MUST NOTIFY CUSTOMS AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
INWARDS – FROM ANOTHER EU COUNTRY – 4 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
INWARDS – FROM A NON-EU COUNTRY – 24 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
*CHANNEL ISLANDS – NOTIFICATION PERIOD IS 12 HOURS.
3. AT PRIVATE AIRFIELDS AND HELIPADS YOU CAN ONLY FLY TO AND FROM OTHER EU COUNTRIES, UNLESS YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO DO SO. IN PARTICULAR, FLIGHTS TO/FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS WILL NEED TO BE AGREED WITH CUSTOMS AND POLICE.
THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD IS THE SAME AS FOR GAA AIRFIELDS.
NOTIFICATIONS FOR FLIGHTS SHOULD BE TO THE NCU BY FAX 0870-785-3738 OR E-MAIL
[email protected]
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING FOREIGN TRAVEL IN YOUR AIRCRAFT, PLEASE CONTACT THE GA TEAM ON 02380-797089 OR E-MAIL
[email protected]
PRIVATE AIRCRAFT COMMON TRAVEL AREA FLIGHTS/TERRORISM ACT 2000
If you are flying to/from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Eire or Northern Ireland you must fly via a designated airport under the Terrorism Act OR give 12hrs prior notice in writing for the Police area in which the Port is situated. Please refer to the Police contact numbers printed on the rear of the GAR. It is an offence under the Terrorism Act to willfully fail to comply with this legislation.
The list of designated airfields is on the same form
CUSTOMS & EXCISE / TERRORISM ACT
DESIGNATED AIRPORTS
ABERDEEN
BELFAST/ALDERGROVE
BELFAST CITY
BIGGIN HILL
BIRMINGHAM
BLACKPOOL
BOURNEMOUTH
BRISTOL
CAMBRIDGE
CARDIFF
CARLISLE *1
COVENTRY
EAST MIDLANDS
EDINBURGH
EXETER
FARNBOROUGH *2
FILTON
GLASGOW
HUMBERSIDE
ISLE OF MAN/ RONALDSWAY
LEEDS BRADFORD
LIVERPOOL
LONDON ( CITY, GATWICK, HEATHROW, LUTON, STANSTED )
LONDONDERRY
LYDD
MANCHESTER
MANSTON
NEWCASTLE
NEWQUAY/ST MAWGAN
NORWICH
PLYMOUTH
PRESTWICK
SHEFFIELD
SHOREHAM
SOUTHAMPTON
SOUTHEND
STAVERTON/GLOUCESTER
SUMBURGH
TEESSIDE
*1 CARLISLE not Customs designated
*2 FARNBOROUGH not designated under the Terrorism Act
The only area of confusion is the issue of when to notify immigration!
Hope that helps