Cost sharing on flights to and from abroad

You can share costs on a flight to or from another country, but the UK rules are only part of the picture. Where a cost-sharing flight originates in, or the aircraft is registered in, another country and travels to the UK, CAP 1590 says "the strictest set of requirements of the two countries will apply", and the UK sources don't tell you what the other country's requirements are.

That means two jobs: meet the UK rules in full, and check the rules of every other country involved before you agree to share costs. This guide sets out what the UK sources say and where they stop.

The UK rules for UK flights

For a flight in a UK-registered aircraft, the normal UK cost-sharing conditions apply. For Part-21 aircraft they are in NCO.GEN.102 (UK Reg (EU) 965/2012); for non-Part-21 aircraft such as permit types, in ANO 2016 art. 13. CAP 1590 (guidance), para 9, says the arrangements "apply to other-than complex motor-powered Part 21 aircraft and non-Part 21 non-complex motor-powered aircraft registered in the UK."

In summary:

• no more than six persons including the pilot (NCO.GEN.102(a))
• passengers share only direct costs: "(a) fuel; (b) oil; (c) airfield charges; and (d) aircraft rental fees at current market rate" (Art. 2(12))
• each passenger pays "not more than the total direct costs divided equally by the number of persons carried (including the pilot)" (NCO.GEN.102(c))
• the flight is operated by a private individual and no pilot is paid for the flight (NCO.GEN.102(d) and (e))
• each passenger is advised the flight doesn't meet CAT safety standards and signs a declaration before the flight (NCO.GEN.102(f) to (h))
• any advert includes the required details (NCO.GEN.102(i))

See CAP 1590 cost sharing rules explained for the full set.

The records still have to be produceable

The passenger record must be "retained by the operator of the flight for a period of 6 months from the date of the flight" and "produced by the operator of the flight when requested by" an Authorised Person (NCO.GEN.102(h)). That applies to an international flight as much as a local one, so keep the declarations somewhere you can get at them while you're away. An electronic record is acceptable, provided it contains the minimum information (CAP 1590, para 18).

Foreign aircraft and flights from abroad

CAP 1590 (guidance), para 16, is the only one of the sources cited here that deals directly with international cost sharing:

If a cost sharing flight originates or is registered in a country other than the UK and travels to the UK, the strictest set of requirements of the two countries will apply.

Read it carefully:

• It covers two cases. A flight that starts in another country and comes to the UK, and an aircraft registered in another country that comes to the UK.
• It's guidance, not legislation. It's the CAA's statement of how the rules fit together, in its guidance document.
• It doesn't spell out the other country's rules. You have to find out what they are and compare them with the UK's, condition by condition.

"The strictest set of requirements" isn't explained further. The cautious reading is to take the stricter version of each condition: if the other country allows fewer passengers, a smaller share of costs, or a narrower list of shareable costs, follow that; if the UK is stricter on a point, follow the UK.

Outbound flights in a UK aircraft

Para 16 talks about flights that travel "to the UK". It doesn't directly address a UK-registered aircraft leaving the UK for another country. The UK conditions still apply to the flight, but the UK sources don't say whether, or how, the other country's rules apply once you're in its airspace or landing at its airfields. Don't assume UK compliance is enough. Check the rules of the destination country, and of any country you'll fly through, before you share costs.

Costs on an international flight

The list of direct costs doesn't change because you're abroad. Fuel bought at a foreign airfield, oil and the rental fee (up to the market rate) can all be shared. A landing fee charged by the airfield is the clearest example of an airfield charge; parking and other fees are less clear, so the cautious approach is to pay those yourself.

International flights often bring other charges, such as handling, customs or other fees. "Airfield charges" isn't defined further in the sources, so where a charge isn't clearly made by the airfield, the cautious approach is to pay it yourself. NCO.GEN.102(b) says "All costs other than direct costs must be paid by the pilot with no contribution from the passengers."

If a charge is in a foreign currency, convert it at the rate you actually paid and split that figure. The cost sharing calculator does the division once you have the totals. See what counts as a direct cost for the grey areas.

Your licence abroad

Check your licence lets you fly where you're going. For NPPL(A) holders, the privileges in ANO 2016 Sch. 8 include the right "with the permission of the competent authority for the airspace in which the aircraft is being flown, to fly such an aeroplane outside the United Kingdom". The sources don't say which countries give that permission, so confirm it before you plan the trip. See cost sharing by licence for the passenger limits that apply to each licence.

Briefing for a water crossing

Many flights abroad from the UK cross the sea, and the passenger briefing has to cover the equipment you carry. AMC1 NCO.OP.130 says the briefing should include, where applicable, "life-jackets" and "life rafts". The CAA's Safety Sense Leaflet 02 adds: "Life jackets must be carried for all occupants when crossing a significant body of water. In single engine piston aircraft, they should be worn during the flight."

For non-Part-21 aircraft, ANO 2016 art. 72(4) says "The pilot in command must determine the risks to survival of the occupants of the aircraft in the event of a ditching when deciding if life-jackets must be worn by all occupants." See giving a passenger briefing.

Before you fly

• Meet every UK cost-sharing condition for the flight.
• Find out the cost-sharing rules in every other country involved, and follow the stricter version of each condition.
• For a foreign-registered aircraft or a flight starting abroad, apply CAP 1590 para 16: the strictest requirements of the two countries.
• Share only fuel, oil, airfield charges and market-rate rental; pay other fees yourself if they aren't clearly airfield charges.
• Check your licence privileges for flying outside the UK.
• Get each passenger's declaration before departure and keep it where you can produce it. Split My Flight keeps signed declarations online with a compliance document for each flight, so they're available wherever you are.

If you're not sure whether the flight works under the UK rules at all, start with is my flight legal.