headsethair No idea. That puzzled me too.
nigelh Yes, it's different for Private flights.
AOC holders can apply to the CAA for a 'long-term' permission to
self-authorise landing and take-off at sites in a congested area. If granted, they are then permitted to assess a site themselves in acordance with the specified procedure and, if satisfied it complies with the conditions, can authorise themselves to land/take-off there.
Private operators aren't permitted to self-authorise. They have to apply to the CAA for authorisation.
If a helicopter is leased, the lessee is the operator of any flights he operates. If he's not an AOC holder, he can't self-authorise.
Battersea -
The rules are different for Private and Public Transport ops.
Tudor Owen