As part of its response to the Government’s General Aviation (GA) Red Tape Challenge, and its ongoing work to ensure regulation of GA is more proportionate, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has changed the requirement for some private pilots to have completed three take offs and landings in the past 90 days before they can fly with a passenger.

A new exemption means that private pilots with a UK (not EASA) pilot licence or a National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) can now fly as pilot in command with a single passenger, who is a suitably qualified pilot, without having completed three take offs and landings in the past 90 days.

To use the exemption the pilot must:

•be satisfied that the passenger is qualified to act as pilot in command on the intended flight but that they understand that they are onboard only as a passenger.

•In order for a pilot to use the flight to regain currency they must be the pilot in command for the flight. The pilot and passenger should be clear on this prior to the flight.

•inform the intended passenger that they do not have the recency which, without this exemption, would be required to fly with a passenger

Providing these criteria are met the exemption provides automatic approval with no need for any application to the CAA. Details of the full exemption are now available on the CAA website.

The change is the CAA’s latest move in its continued commitment to supporting and encouraging a dynamic recreational GA sector. With a safety regulation system that imposes the minimum necessary burden and empowers individuals to make responsible decisions to secure acceptable safety outcomes, to create a vibrant and dynamic GA sector.

Details of the CAA’s work through its GA programme can be seen at www.caa.co.uk/ga