Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch Report on the accident to Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, N264DB 22 nm north-north-west of Guernsey on 21 January 2019, published on 13 March, what assessment they have made of the additional checks required to ensure that pilots operating outside the Air Operations Centre structure have the required licences, certificates and ratings for the flights they undertake.

Each pilot has a legal responsibility to make sure they can safely and legally operate each flight they make. If pilots fail to comply they are flying illegally and can be subject to prosecution. Where the CAA has evidence that pilots are flying without the correct licences and ratings they will take appropriate action which can include prosecuting the offenders.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) made a recommendation that “the Civil Aviation Authority ensure that the system in place to meet the requirements of EASA Part ARA. GEN.220 is effective in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records related to personnel licences, certificates and ratings”. This was not designed to stop a pilot who chooses to operate outside the privileges of their licence, and it will not do so. Such requirements (to check licences etc) already exist for properly constituted operations in accordance with commercial regulations (with an Air Operators Certificate). The AAIB recommendation was intended to ensure that routine changes to a pilot’s licence (such as new ratings) are reflected accurately against the CAA’s record for that pilot. Pilots of private flights do not have their credentials checked every time they go flying, as such a system would be disproportionate to the risks associated with the activity.