The Charter is published by the CAA as CAP 1590A, "Charter to promote the safety of Cost Sharing flights within the United Kingdom". It is signed by organisations that run online flight sharing platforms, not by pilots.
CAP 1590 (guidance), para 25 explains its role:
The promotion of cost sharing flights can include the use of online ‘flight sharing’ platforms. Where cost shared flights are arranged through online platforms the CAA recommends the use of only websites that have signed up to the UK Charter. Platforms that have signed up to this Charter support the provision of appropriate information to both pilots and passengers and help to ensure that cost-sharing flights are conducted safely and within the scope of the regulation.
Signatories commit to things such as providing safety material; for example, Article 2 of the Charter reads "Provide pilots with checklists, guidance and tutorials on safety best practices."
The recommendation is guidance, not law. Nothing in NCO.GEN.102 or ANO 2016 art. 13 requires you to use a platform, or a signatory platform. Whichever way you find passengers, the legal conditions still apply to you as pilot, including the rule that any advert "must be placed by the pilot intending to operate the flight" with the required details (NCO.GEN.102(i)). The CAA publishes the current list of signatories on its cost sharing flights page.
Source: CAP 1590 (guidance), para 25; CAA, CAP 1590A
Read more in our guides
- CAP 1590 and the cost sharing rules explained What CAP 1590 is, where the UK cost sharing rules come from, and what each NCO.GEN.102 condition means for a private pilot flying with passengers.
- Advertising cost-sharing flights: what the law requires Seven items every cost-sharing advert must include, who can place it, and how the rules apply on Wingly, Facebook and forums. With an example compliant advert.
Related terms
Back to the glossary. Definitions summarise the legislation and CAA guidance and are not legal advice.