Below is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of The Home Office Firearms Guidance Document:
Signalling apparatus on aircraft or
at aerodromes
6.42 Section 13(1)(a) of the 1968 Act also
applies to the possession of signalling
apparatus (for example, Very pistols) and
ammunition for it (but not to other types of
firearms and ammunition) which are required
as part of the equipment of an aircraft or an
aerodrome. Section 13(1)(b) of the 1968 Act
provides for such apparatus and ammunition,
which are part of the equipment of aircraft,
to be stored in safe custody at an aerodrome
and to be removed between the place of
storage and the aircraft, or from one aircraft
to another at an aerodrome, without the
necessity for a certificate or permit.
6.43 A permit on form 115 may be issued
under section 13(1)(c) of the 1968 Act to
cover any other case of removal of
signalling apparatus.
6.44 A firearm certificate is necessary to
authorise the purchase or acquisition of
signalling apparatus and ammunition therefor
but this may be issued free of charge
(see also Chapter 20 on fees).
Birdscaring
6.45 In the main there are two types of
firearm used for birdscaring, a necessary
safety measure at airfields: a firearm
designed as signalling apparatus and
modified accordingly (for example, a
modified Very pistol) or a firearm purposebuilt
for birdscaring, almost without
exception 12 bore. Where the firearm was
designed as signalling apparatus, it would not
be prohibited under section 5(1)(aba) of the
1968 Act even though it was now being used
for birdscaring. Persons wishing to purchase
or acquire such firearms can also benefit
from the provisions in section 32(3)(b) of
the 1968 Act in that no fee is payable where
the certificate relates solely to signalling
apparatus which the applicant requires as part
of the equipment of the aerodrome. The
certificate should, however, be conditioned
to the effect that the firearm should be used
only for signalling purposes and birdscaring
(see Appendix 3).
6.46 It should be noted that most cartridges
used for these purposes contain a single
projectile and are therefore subject to section
1 of the 1968 Act. Also, firearms specifically
designed for birdscaring (not signalling) fall
under section 5(1)(aba) of the 1968 Act
(prohibited weapons) if they have a barrel
less than 30cm, or are less than 60cm in
overall length. Firearms specifically designed
for birdscaring, and used for that purpose
(rather than for signalling as part of the
equipment of an aircraft or aerodrome),
also attract a fee when held on certificate.
The Guidance is not the easiest document to read but it is several degrees of magnitude better than the Firearms Act which is abyssmal!
YS