New rules for private aircraft

24 June 2011

Jersey Air Traffic Services has introduced a temporary air traffic management plan to cover the high number of aircraft movements expected over the summer months. Prior permission will be required from private aircraft flying into Channel Islands' airspace from Thursday 30 June 2011. The new rules are expected to last for 3 months.

Air Traffic Services can handle up to 700 aircraft movements per day during the busy summer months. The temporary ‘Prior Permission Required’ (PPR) system will be introduced for private aircraft flying under Visual Flight Rules and arriving in the Channel Islands.

Director of Civil Aviation, Fergus Woods, has supported the move, which is intended to ensure that Air Traffic Services has sufficient resources and reliable systems in place to handle the expected increase in aircraft travelling to and from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, as well as flying through its airspace.

Jersey Airport’s Operations Director, Sandy Sawyer, said "Meetings have been held with representatives from the general aviation community across all 3 islands, explaining the reasons behind the necessity of implementing this temporary PPR scheme. It was also agreed with them that a briefing package be developed to assist visiting pilot's understanding of complexities when operating in the Channel Islands Control Zone and to help smooth their transit to any of the 3 airports. Every step has been taken to ensure this temporary measure runs as smoothly as possible for pilots."

To assist the PPR process, a page has been created on the Channel Islands Control Zone website that allows pilots to request a PPR time slot up to 2 hours before arriving at the Channel Islands airspace boundary. There is also a dedicated contact number that pilots can telephone.

Channel Islands Control Zone website