§ Group-Captain Wilcockasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the expense and delay caused by the necessity of members of aircraft crews obtaining visas when flying through Europe and Africa; and if arrangements will be made for regular crews of aircraft to be granted, say, a six months' visa as in the case of Sweden.
Mr. McNeilI have been asked to reply.
The Interim Council of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation have recommended as a "Standard" (this is "any requirement, procedure or practice in respect of which a high degree of international uniformity is desirable and likely to be attainable") that no visas shall be required on any general declaration or any passenger or cargo manifest of any airline. Recommendations thus approved by the Interim Council are directed to Member States for adoption in accordance with Article XIII, Section 3 of the Interim Agreement on International Civil Aviation signed at Chicago on the 7th December, 1944, which provides that the Member states shall apply such recommendations as rapidly as possible in their national civil aviation practices.
Aircrews of foreign air navigation lines arriving in this country are not required, except in the case of Russia, to obtain visas. When an aircrew arrives in this country, a temporary discharge is issued by the immigration authorities which allows the members of the aircrew freedom 60W to leave the airport and to move about the country without restriction, on the understanding that their stay will not exceed a few days.
The foregoing does not apply to charter companies or private companies, and it is understood that with a few exceptions, e.g., France, foreign countries do not grant any special facilities either.
The information available with regard to British aircrews on regular services to countries in Europe and Africa is as follows:
- Austria—No visa required, but a military permit is required.
- Belgium—No visa required.
- Czechoslovakia—Visa is required.
- Denmark—No visa required.
- France—No visa required; aircrews have to obtain clearance by local immigration authorities.
- Finland—No visa required.
- Germany—No visa required, but military permit is required.
- Greece—No visa required.
- Holland—No visa required.
- Hungary—Visa is required.
- Italy—Visa is required.
- Norway—No visa required.
- Poland—Visa is required.
- Portugal—No visa required.
- Russia—Visa is required.
- Spain—Visa is required.
- Sweden—No visa required.
- Switzerland—No visa required.
- Turkey—No visa required.
Africa
- Belgian Congo—No visa required.
- Egypt—No visa required.
- Ethiopia—No visa required.
- Eritrea and Tripolitania—No visa required, but military permit is required.
- French West Africa and Morocco—No visa required.
- Portuguese East Africa—No visa required.
- Rio de Oro—No visa required.
- Union of South Africa—No visa required.
So far as aircrews of regular air services are concerned, the visa position, with the few exceptions shown, is relatively satisfactory. Progress is at the same time being made in the general abolition of visas with European countries, such agreement having already been concluded with France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Norway, while negotiations are in progress with the Netherlands. Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.