kanga wrote:gasman wrote:I wonder how many people smugglers file a flight plan and land at an international airport?
Difficult to estimate, obviously, but I'd guess very few, as very few come by air, because
you can get far more people and stuff in a boat,
which is easier and cheaper to procure, and
easier to move and arrive undetected, and
legitimate travellers by private boat face far fewer administration hurdles.
But, obviously, this is mere speculation
The disparity in requirements for notification when arriving by boat vs. aircraft is just ridiculous - by boat, with EU nationals on board from an EU origin port,
no need to tell anyone at all. If you arrive with some non-EU nationals on board, or you sailed from a non-EU-country, you just phone
after arriving, the National Yachtline and you might have to file the C1331 form (bit like a GAR) - but that's
after you have arrived -
no advanced notice requirements! In an aircraft (for non-eu pax/origin) 24 hours notice and you need to wait for affirmation that your GAR has been filed/acknowladged/approved - or four hours for EU pax/origin.
So regardless of Schengen/EU, whatever, just sail a boat into a little harbour in Cornwall and do what you want with as many passengers as you want if they've all got EU-passports.
Post-Brexit though, who knows - nobody's worked that out yet!