It could only happen in Britain

[Justiciar]

Had a lovely flight to Le Touquet a few days ago. It was the usual story in France – no customs, no immigration either in or out of the country. How different from back in the UK. At Norwich we are marshalled onto a stand on the apron. Driven by mini bus all of 50 yards to the terminal. There our passports are checked. We walk through customs (no one there) and into the departure lounge. Then its immediately back into the departure gate and through the metal detectors and x-ray. Why? God knows! My companion is searched when the metal detector goes off. Then its out onto the apron and a 50 yard walk back to the aircraft (no mini bus this time).

This was a quick turn round. I'm told you can wait for some time if a flight is arriving.

What a complete farce.

Whilst all this was going on for one Cherokee, which is based at the airfield anyway, and two occupants, up and down the country at airports and ports generally people were being waived through customs and immigration in their hundreds.

It could only happen in Britain. But at least the politicians can say they are cracking down on this horrendous security weakness that this GA

[BRL]

Hi. I can see exactly what your point is but how much experience do you have to back it up? Have you been all over the world then, the far east, australia, the middle east, north and south america and so on to compare different situations?

I am just limited to the Uk so I can't possibly comment on what it is like all over the world.

[DFC]

There are alternatives to what you describe.

1. Land at an airfield in the middle of nowhere.....having first given the Customs the required notification......then you are on an internal flight and can proceed direct to the flying club at your base airport.

Pick a small grass field...........If you are on time and there is no-one about just do a touch and go since they haven't bothered to turn up!!


Seriously though, there is no requirment for arrivals into the UK from the EU to present themselves to Customs. For the average passenger, there is a blue channel designed for bypassing customs.

Provided that you have notified Customs of your arrival, it is up to Customs to approach you for a "random check".

You are correct though.......It's got to be the UK when every arrival stands at the Customs desk and announces that they are there for the random inspection.

Pick up the phone and talk to your local Custom's Officer. My monies on you have an easier passage in future.

Regards,

DFC

[Chilli Monster]

Pick up the phone and talk to your local Custom's Officer. My monies on you have an easier passage in future.

I doubt it.

Nothing against Norwich, nice ATC (Hi NikNak), good facilities - but

When are the jobsworth security morons (who also would have made you go through customs) that these places employ, going to realise that I'm not likely to smuggle a weapon onto my own aircraft. What am I going to do - hijack myself.

I recently visited another 'airport' which has delusions of grandeur. Myself and 3 passengers (all known to me) had to go through the full security procedure of metal detector, bag scans, removing all the metal objects beforehand. What if they'd found something on me they didn't like, what were they going to do - stop me boarding my own aircraft? As the aircraft commander I say who or what goes on board - not them.

National Transportation Security policy is for this sort of thing being only necessary for aircraft with (I believe) greater than 9 seats capacity. Would someone like to tell these idiots of this fact. (And before anyone says "go somewhere else" I couldn't on this particular occasion)

Rant mode off.

[Timothy]

As L says, it is not only in the UK. Try anywhere in Southern Italy, most of Africa, and a lot of places in Germany.

As DFC says (though somewhat tongue in cheek) it very much depends where you go in the UK. The dedicated GA airfields (Biggin, Fairoaks etc) it is very easy indeed..at least as easy as in LTQ. Norwich is famous for its non-GA-friendly procedures and shouldn't be used to judge the whole country.

W

[Miserlou]

No, UK is OK from what I have seen.

The most ridiculous I have seen was in Luxembourg. A colleague of mine checked in (as aircrew) to fly LUX-CPH-LUX then as I took over from him he was escorted in to the terminal to check in as a passenger to go back to CPH.

His bags and jacket remained aboard the aircraft!

[2Donkeys]

It happens in the US too. Try returning from the Bahamas after a day out in a light aircraft. You get the Norwich treatment, and then some... particularly if you don't have your forms filled in in advance.

2D

[wet wet wet]

I too have had the Norwich experience, including having my photo taken! When I commented that I wasn't likely to hijack my own aircraft it was pointed out that I was being let into the sterile departure lounge so could (in theory) hide a weapon there for an accomplice take onto a commercial flight. Fair point.

[BigEndBob]

I returned light aircraft from Bahamas to West Palm Beach....friendlest bunch of customs guys i,ve ever come across, no hassle.

[2Donkeys]

In that case, I advise strongly against Fort Lauderdale Exec.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

When are the jobsworth security morons (who also would have made you go through customs) that these places employ, going to realise that I'm not likely to smuggle a weapon onto my own aircraft. What am I going to do - hijack myself.

Last time I was at Norwich, admittedly some time ago, there was no secure escort from the terminal to your aircraft - once security had finished with you you were just allowed to wander anywhere you liked on the tarmac. Eg past or onto another aircraft, on or in which you could plant something.

[221B]

Had a similar exerience at Teeside - no secure escort airside on arrival or departure.

Once past the security gate (xray and search) to return to the aircraft, myself and my passengers could wander about anywhere airside.

There was no search at my departure airfield, so I could have arrived with something untoward in the aircraft, and once landed I was able to freely wander about airside.

In addition, there was no check going out through the security gate - This could lead to an interesting situation of arriving with something deemed unsafe, carrying it out of the airport, but then not being allowed back through security with it!

[Justiciar]

I was at Norwich, admittedly some time ago, there was no secure escort from the terminal to your aircraft - once security had finished with you you were just allowed to wander anywhere you liked on the tarmac

Still exactly the same. The whole thing is a complete fiasco. My companion was carrying quite a large swiss army knife which he placed in the tray to go through the x-ray. He was then body searched on the other side. They then gave him his knife back without a word He was preparing to give it to me as PIC, since apparently the PIC is entitled to carry such things if 'passengers' are not.

Can any one explain the logic of all this?