Private aircraft owners, operators, and pilots now face fines of up to £10,000 ($12,700) if they fail to provide the UK Border Force with advance passenger information (API) online before departing to or from the country. Previously, API data could be submitted by email, fax, or other manual methods.
The requirement took effect from April 6, having been approved by the UK parliament in November. According to the government, the change will help the Border Force to more effectively deploy personnel to address security concerns about travelers. The agency said it is committed to screening 100 percent of all general aviation flights it is notified about.
In March, the UK’s former chief inspector of border security published allegations that the Border Force had consistently failed to screen business aircraft arriving at London City Airport. In January, the government reduced the number of general aviation airfields approved to receive international flights by 84%. Announcing the new requirements, the UK minister for legal migration, Tom Pursglove, said the changes form “part of wider work to boost security in the general aviation space and keep our borders secure to counter terrorism, prevent and detect crime, and for immigration purposes.”
Business aviation airports and FBOs in the UK are now having to make significant investments in enhanced security technology. On Monday, Farnborough Airport announced it spent £3 million on a security upgrade that includes a pair of the latest C3 baggage screening systems that allow passengers to avoid having to remove laptop computers and other electronic devices, as well as up to two liters in liquids, from their personal bags. Last week, London City Airport’s Private Jet Centre announced it also invested in the same technology and expects to have it operational before July.
During the British Business & General Aviation Association’s annual conference in March, FBOs and aircraft operators complained about the rising cost of security arrangements. Speakers criticized the UK Civil Aviation Authority for specifying equipment for which there are limited numbers of suppliers. They said this has pushed up costs due to a lack of competition, resulting in items such as swabs used to check bags for illegal substances costing £500 for 100 tests.