The Air Charter Association (The ACA) is supporting the UK CAA in opening a consultation for proposed amendments to current cost sharing flight rules.

The ACA supports true cost sharing flights, those shared by private individuals, in helping new pilots to gain valuable flying hours. However, the association has serious concerns over cost sharing being used to mask illegal charter flights.

The ACA CEO Glenn Hogben says: “We recognise the UK CAA's consultation as a step towards addressing the illegal charter issues relating to cost sharing flights. We hope it will bring changes to regulation, encourage other international authorities to review their policies and ultimately increase safety by reducing illegal charter flights.”

The cost share element of cost sharing flights relates to the expenses that can legitimately be distributed between the pilot and others on board the aircraft; these expenses are direct costs which include fuel, airfield charges or aircraft rental fees. However, there are instances where pilots and passengers of illegal commercial air transport conspire to present illegal flights as legal cost shared flights.

The UK CAA has reviewed the current cost sharing regulations and opened this consultation, seeking views on the proposed changes to help determine what happens next.