Travel to the UK for LPC without quarantine?

[SSDK]

Hi all

I'm getting my 737 rating renewed at the end of this month in the UK. I will be traveling from France by car to do the sim 2 days prior but now I'm not sure if it's legal?

The company I'm doing it with say they can provide me with a letter of proof that I will undertake training, but is that enough? From what I can see the exemption only applies for people who have travelled in the flight deck without any passenger contact.

The Uk exemption list is below:

-UK travel exemptions- (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules#aircraft-pilots-and-crew)

Any help or info would be appreciated regarding this.

[wiggy]

Hi

As I understand all this, open to correction etc.

Have a really careful read of the full rules for aircrew again, you are correct that in thinking you are not exempt from quarantine but you have an exemption that allows you to leave quarantine to perform training/duties assigned by your operator ..

The body of the rules in part state that for Amber list countries (e.g. France):

If you live overseas you must quarantine in your accommodation (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england) while in England, except while you are undertaking the exempt activity or travelling as part of your work.

If you are in England for longer than 2 days, you need to take a mandatory workplace, community or home lateral flow device (LFD) test (https://www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site) on or before days 2, 5 and 8 after arrival.

If you are travelling every day, you must take a lateral flow test at least once every 3 days.



(my italics/bold).

Further down the rule states that this applies to:

Pilots and crew, as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order 2016 or other people carried to perform duties assigned by the aircraft operator or pilot in command relating to the safety of passengers or the aircraft, where they have travelled to the United Kingdom in the course of their work or are otherwise required to travel to the United Kingdom for work purposes.

(my emphasis)

So as I understand ..

1. Carry ID, letter from employer.
2. Travel into UK - you do need to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
3. Go straight into self isolation on arrival at the place you nominated on your PLF.
4. You can leave isolation only to perform duties such as your LPC
5... and also to go direct to the port of departure to leave the UK once training /duty is complete (that is contained in another section of the more general rules).

Hope that helps

[deltahotel]

I concur, but in addition note the requirements for Covid tests on days 2,5&8 if you stay that long. It may be possible for the company you are working with to source these for you.

Good luck

[Findon 40]

You can get the LFD test kits very easily......... they can be ordered on line to your UK address ( I had mine delivered in less than 24hrs)
or visit a local NHS Covid test site (again the local one to me, after 1430 you could just turn up,no appointment & they are handing out the kits out, no questions or ID required, each kit has 7 tests)

UK Gov website has all the info & will tell you the nearest location to you where they can be picked up from free of charge..........

[SSDK]

Thank you for the advice guys.

One small note though. I already live in the UK, but have had to leave the country to oversee a sick family member for a few months.

I only drove back to go and do the sim, but I will stay in the UK until the flying starts again.

Am I right in saying I don't even need to quarantine since I live in the UK?

I ordered the day 2+5+8 test regardless. You never know which intrepretation of the rules will apply to a "grey area situation" like a sim.

[awair]

I agree with the interpretation above, but would add the exemption:

to complete a PLF if you travel in the flight-deck
for mandatory hotel quarantine if travelling from a red country

…providing you are travelling for duties related to your status as a crew-member. It doesn’t just have to be operating in or out. Regulatory training duties, where they can't be completed elsewhere, also fall in to this category.

But, as always, depends who greets you on the day.

Good luck.