Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC): Apply for issue and submit ARC

If you wish to operate an aircraft, you will need an Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).

An aircraft is considered airworthy if it meets all the necessary requirements to be able to fly in a safe condition. Airworthiness is documented in the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). Aircraft, helicopters or other aircraft may not be operated without a valid ARC.

You can

• apply for an ARC from the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA)
• submit a newly issued or extended ARC to the LBA.

Depending on the authorization, an ARC can be issued by

• the LBA,
• a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) with the right to inspect airworthiness,
• a Combined Airworthiness Organization (CAO) with the right to inspect airworthiness, or
• an independent airworthiness review staff, the so-called Independent Airworthiness Review Staff (IARS), with the corresponding authorization.

Whether you can submit an ARC directly to the LBA or have to apply to the LBA for it to be issued depends, among other things, on

• whether you are the owner of the aircraft,
• whether the issuing organization or person has a right to check airworthiness or a corresponding authorization,
• whether the airworthiness test was carried out abroad or in accordance with foreign test regulations.

An ARC is valid for 1 year. It can be extended up to 2 times under certain conditions.

for the issue of an ARC:

• Recommendation report
• Evidence of the fully documented inspection

if the recommendation report was prepared by an organization not approved by the LBA, additionally:

• Certificate of approval from the CAMO or CAO
  • CAMO: "EASA or LBA Form 14"
  • CAO: "EASA or LBA Form 3-CAO"
• Scope of work
• ARS authorization of the airworthiness review staff

if you are submitting the application on behalf of the owner:

• Proof of power of representation

for the submission of the ARC:

• ARC (Form 15b or Form 15c)

if the airworthiness has been checked by a licensing organization with IARS authorization that does not have a German Part-66 license number:

• Part-66 license
• IARS authorization

if the ARC was issued by an organization not approved by the LBA, additionally:

• Certificate of approval
  • CAMO: "EASA Form 14"
  • CAO: "EASA Form 3-CAO"
    

for the issue of an ARC:

• You are the owner of an aircraft as
  • natural person,
  • a community of owners - represented by an owner or a legal entity
  • legal entity.
• You are acting as a CAMO or CAO on behalf of the keeper.
• The organization issuing the recommendation report is approved as a CAMO or CAO.
• If the inspection was carried out in accordance with foreign inspection regulations: Recognition of the proof of maintenance within the meaning of the Ordinance on the Inspection of Aviation Equipment has been obtained.

for the submission of the ARC:

• A newly issued ARC can be submitted on behalf of the holder
  • CAMOs
  • CAOs
  • IARS
• can submit an extended ARC
  • CAMOs
  • CAOs
    

• Objection

You can lodge an objection within 1 month.

You can apply for an ARC online or by post, fax or e-mail and submit the ARC online or by post, fax or e-mail.
Online application:

• Go to the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de and complete the online application.
• You need an ELSTER business account to submit the online application.
• You can upload your documents directly.
• Alternatively, you can print out the application and send it to the LBA together with the required documents by post, fax or e-mail.
• The LBA will then check whether the requirements for issuing the certificate have been met.
• If anything is unclear or information is missing, the LBA will contact you. The LBA will send you
• a notice of approval,
• the airworthiness certificate (ARC)
• and a notice of costs.

Application by post or fax:

• Call up the forms on the LBA website.
• Complete the forms and compile the required documents.
• Send all documents to the LBA.
• The further procedural steps are the same as for the online application.
  

There are no deadlines.

Costs for issuing an ARC.: Fee from 100,00 EUR to 1.000,00 EUR