Have you been gifted a flight experience? Has a family member or a friend has offered to have you as a passenger in their light aircraft?
Before you fly, it’s important to understand that General Aviation (GA) flights are different from commercial airline travel. They can be exciting, scenic, and highly personal experiences, but they are also more sensitive to weather and aircraft limitations.
This page is here to help you understand what to expect and to suggest some questions you might ask the pilot or operator so that you feel comfortable before deciding to fly.
What to expect in a ‘General Aviation’ flight
- Small aircraft typically with 2–6 seats.
- Usually flown by licensed recreational pilots rather than professional airline crews.
- Flights may be recreational, training, or for personal travel.
- Weather and operating conditions can affect GA aircraft more than commercial aircraft/airlines.
Understanding the Nature of a GA Flight
- More sensitivity to weather: GA aircraft are lighter and smaller, so wind, turbulence, rain, and temperature changes have a much greater impact than on large commercial jets.
- Lower flying altitudes: GA flights usually operate at lower altitudes than commercial aircraft, where weather is more changeable - cloud, poor visibility, turbulence, and precipitation are more common, and therefore flights may be delayed, rerouted or cancelled if the weather changes.
- Different regulations than airlines: GA is regulated by the CAA and is considered safe for members of the public to participate in, but the rules and operating environment are different from commercial air transport.
- Aircraft size and comfort: Smaller aircraft can feel more turbulence, are noisier, and can experience more vibration than an airliner.
- Pilot experience: All GA pilots must meet statutory licensing standards, but experience levels may differ to those of commercial airline pilots. The pilot in command of any aircraft has responsibility for the safety of those onboard. You can read more in our Care of Passengers Safety Sense Leaflet.
- Difference in aerodromes: GA airfields are quite different. Many are small operations without large terminals unlike what you may experience when going on holiday. They can often have smaller grass runways which may not be as smooth as those at a larger airport.
Remember: You are always free to decline or stop the flight at any point before take‑off. If you feel unwell during the flight, speak to the pilot who can end the flight early.
Types of flight
GA covers a range of flying activity, including:
- Recreational flights e.g. flying with a friend or family member who is a pilot
- Cost sharing flight e.g. you are contributing to the cost of the flight, such as fuel or hire of aircraft etc.
- Pleasure flights e.g. scenic flights over a city or local landmark
- Flight experience e.g. you have bought or been gifted an experience to fly as either a ‘Trial lesson’ or ‘Introductory flight’.
- ‘Charity flights’ that you may have won as a prize in a raffle or other competition
- Flights in a historic of high-performance aircraft – operators are normally required to receive your written consent and will ask you for your written consent before you participate. You can read more about Safety standards acknowledgement and consent here.
You should understand the basis on which the flight is offered – if in doubt confirm with the organisation or individual concerned. If you or someone else such as a relative are making a payment for the flight to take place, additional requirements on the pilot and operator normally apply above that for a private flight flown by a friend or family member. If making a financial contribution to a private flight, this should be no more than a proportionate share of the cost.
Organisations offering ‘introductory flights’ must comply with certain requirements. More information about introductory flights can be found here. ‘Trial’ flying lessons must be conducted by a qualified flying instructor.
If you have any concerns about the legality or safety of the flight, you can report any concerns you have to us.
Risks
As with any recreational activity, flying does come with risks. While air accidents are concerning, they are rare, and pilots are trained to deal with incidents such as engine failures and other emergencies as part of gaining their license.
Operators of aircraft are expected to identify and manage risks specific to the nature and location of their operation; feel free to ask them questions about this before your flight.
In 2025 13 people were fatally injured, and 14 seriously injured in GA accidents out of 528,871 reported hours flown’, according to UK Aircraft Register as on 14 April 2026.
On average, GA accidents each year lead to about 11 fatalities and 14 serious injuries. This represents roughly 2-3 accidents in which a fatality or serious injury occurred for every 100,000 reported flight hours.
In comparison, according to the UK CAA Annual Safety Review 2024, the scheduled commercial air transport sector carried over 128 million passengers on more than 880,000 flights. In 2024, there were 4 accidents and 18 serious incidents; three of these accidents resulted in serious injuries.
Before your flight
Your pilot or appointed ground staff should give you a safety briefing before you fly. This normally covers what to do in an emergency such as opening emergency exits, operation of seat belts, and adopting a brace position. They should also outline the route and plan for the flight.
- Ensure you understand the safety briefing and ask any questions you may have. For example:
- What noises or sensations should I expect?
- How do I talk to you during the flight, and when is a good time for questions?
- What’s the plan for the route, altitude, and expected duration?
- How does the weather look along the route and at the destination?
- What are our options if conditions change (e.g., turn back, divert, a Plan B)?
- What licenses or ratings do you hold and are they valid?
- Are you comfortable with today’s aircraft and conditions?
- What are the risks you have considered ahead of today’s flight?
- When was the aircraft last inspected or maintained, and does the aircraft insurance cover all occupants?
- On what basis is the flight offered, for example is it a trial flying lesson or an introductory flight experience?
- What safety equipment is on board (e.g., lifejackets, emergency locator beacon, first aid, CO Detector, Fire Extinguisher)?
During your flight
- There will be times when you won’t be able to speak to the pilot e.g. during take-off and landing, or when they are talking to air traffic control over the radio.
- Let the pilot know if you feel unwell or uneasy.
- You can help by keeping an eye out for other aircraft and letting the pilot know – don’t assume they’ve seen it.
- Remember to enjoy it and have fun!