The Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001

Case A— Airmen

Interpretation

111.  In this Case, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “airman” means a person who is, or has been, employed under a contract of service either as a pilot, commander, navigator or other member of the crew of any aircraft, or in any other capacity on board any aircraft where—

  (a)

  the employment in that other capacity is for the purposes of the aircraft or its crew or of any passengers or cargo or mails carried on that aircraft; and

  (b)

  the contract is entered into in the United Kingdom with a view to its performance (in whole or in part) while the aircraft is in flight,

  but does not include a person in so far as his employment is as a serving member of the forces;

• “British aircraft” means any aircraft belonging to Her Majesty and any aircraft registered in the United Kingdom of which the owner (or managing owner if there is more than one owner) resides or has his principal place of business in the United Kingdom, and references to the owner of an aircraft shall, in relation to an aircraft which has been hired, be taken as referring to the person for the time being entitled as hirer to possession and control of the aircraft by virtue of the hiring or any subordinate hiring.

Modification of employed earner’s employment

112.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where an airman is employed as such on board any aircraft, and the employer of that airman or the person paying the airman his earnings in respect of the employment (whether or not the person making the payment is acting as agent for the employer) or the person under whose directions the terms of the airman’s employment and the amount of the earnings to be paid in respect of that employment are determined has—

(a) in the case of the aircraft being a British aircraft, a place of business in Great Britain or Northern Ireland; or

(b) in any other case, his principal place of business in Great Britain or Northern Ireland,

then, notwithstanding that the airman does not fulfil the conditions of section 2(1)(a) of the Act (definition of employed earner), he shall be treated as employed in employed earner’s employment and, for the purposes of regulation 145(1)(a), in respect of that employment, as present in Great Britain or Northern Ireland (as the case requires).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), notwithstanding that an airman is employed in an employment to which the provisions of paragraph (1) applies, if that airman is neither domiciled nor has a place of residence in Great Britain or Northern Ireland (as the case requires) no contributions shall be payable by or in respect of him as an employed earner.

(3) Paragraph (2) is subject to any Order in Council giving effect to any reciprocal agreement made under section 179 of the Administration Act (reciprocal agreements with countries outside the United Kingdom).

Application of the Act and regulations

113.  Part I of the Act and so much of Part VI of the Act as relates to contributions and the regulations made under those provisions, so far as they are not inconsistent with this Case, apply to an airman with the modification that, where an airman is, on account of his being outside the United Kingdom by reason of his employment as an airman, unable to perform an act required to be done either immediately or upon the happening of a certain event or within a specified time, he shall be deemed to have complied with such requirement if he performs the act as soon as is reasonably practicable, although after the happening of the event or the expiration of the specified time.