PART 10

Prohibited behaviour, directives, rules, powers and penalties
CHAPTER 1

Prohibited behaviour

Flights over any foreign country
247
1
The operator and the pilot in command of an aircraft registered in the United Kingdom (or, if the operator's principal place of business or permanent residence is in the United Kingdom, any other aircraft) which is being flown over any foreign country, must not allow that aircraft to be used for a purpose which is prejudicial to the security, public order or public health of, or to the safety of air navigation in relation to, that country.
2
A person does not contravene paragraph (1) if that person neither knew nor suspected that the aircraft was being or was to be used for a purpose referred to in that paragraph.
3
Subject to paragraph (4), the operator and the pilot in command of an aircraft registered in the United Kingdom (or, if the operator's principal place of business or permanent residence is in the United Kingdom, any other aircraft) which is being flown over any foreign country must comply with any directions given by the appropriate aeronautical authorities of that country whenever—
a
the flight has not been duly authorised; or
b
there are reasonable grounds for the appropriate aeronautical authorities to believe that the aircraft is being or will be used for a purpose which is prejudicial to the security, public order or public health of, or to the safety of air navigation in relation to, that country.
4
A direction under paragraph (3) need not be complied with if to do so would endanger the lives of persons on board or the safety of the aircraft.
5
A person does not contravene paragraph (3) if that person neither knew nor suspected that directions were being given by the appropriate aeronautical authorities.
6
The requirement in paragraph (3) is without prejudice to any other requirement to comply with directions of an aeronautical authority.
7
In this article, “appropriate aeronautical authorities” includes any person, whether a member of a country's military or civil authorities, authorised under the law of the foreign country to issue directions to aircraft flying over that country.