Facilitation — ICAO Annex 9
ICAO Annex 9 (Facilitation) establishes international procedures for the efficient, uniform entry and departure of aircraft, persons, baggage, cargo and mail at international airports. Goal: fast and coherent processing without security or safety compromises.
Annex 9 structure (overview)
| Chapter | Content |
|---|---|
| Ch. 1 | Definitions and general provisions |
| Ch. 2 | Entry and departure of aircraft (documents, arrival/departure formalities) |
| Ch. 3 | Entry and departure of persons and baggage |
| Ch. 4 | Entry and departure of cargo and other articles |
| Ch. 5 | Inadmissible passengers and deported persons |
| Ch. 6 | International airports — facilities for clearance |
| Ch. 7 | Landing elsewhere than at international airports |
| Ch. 8 | Public health and quarantine provisions |
Aerodromes of Entry (AOE)
AOE are designated aerodromes where international flights may arrive or depart — i.e. where customs, immigration and health authorities are present or reachable. A VFR pilot flying abroad must always operate to/from an AOE.
Source of AOE lists: the AIP of each State, usually in GEN 1.3 and AD 1.2.
Practical PPL relevance
Documents to carry on international flights
| Document | When required |
|---|---|
| Passports of occupants | Always on international flights outside Schengen |
| National ID card | Within Schengen, EU citizens may use this |
| Visa | Depending on destination State (e.g. for non-EU citizens) |
| General Declaration (GenDec) | Standard document at apron with pax list, crew, route, cargo |
| General Aviation Report (GAR) | UK: submitted before entry and before departure (4–12 h notice) |
| APIS data | USA and other States: advance passenger list (Advance Passenger Information System) |
Notification requirement for border crossing
Schengen external border:
- Pre-notification required on every flight crossing the Schengen external border.
- Format and lead time vary by Member State (consult arrival State's AIP).
- Examples: France–UK, Germany–non-Schengen Norway.
Within Schengen:
- No person border control for EU/EFTA citizens.
- Customs can still spot-check (tobacco, alcohol, currency).
Within EU customs union:
- No customs declaration for normal goods between EU Member States.
Europe (EASA / EU)
Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399) governs border controls at Schengen external borders. Annex 9 is implemented in EU law.
Practical tip: before any international flight always consult the destination State's AIP — requirements vary significantly (e.g. UK GAR is stricter than German pre-notification).
Germany (national)
Responsible: Federal Police (Bundespolizei, BPOL) for border control, Customs (Zoll) for goods/currency control.
- AOE list: published in AIP Germany AD 1.2.
- Pre-notifications for international flights: format/timing in AIP ENR 1.12 and per State.
- Customs declaration: under the Zollgesetz (ZG) — goods exceeding allowances (e.g. 200 cigarettes, 1 L spirits) must be declared.