Air operator's certificate; application

An Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is required for the operation of aircraft for the transportation of passengers, freight or mail in return for payment or other monetary consideration (= commercial air transport operations).

The operator must apply for this from the competent aviation authority before commencing commercial air transport operations.

The applicant must prove to the authority, among other things, that

• all requirements imposed on operators of commercial air transport operations by Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and the associated Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 965/2012 are complied with
• all aircraft operated have an airworthiness certificate
• the structure and management of the operator is suitable and appropriate to the size and scope of the flight operations.

Before issuing the air operator's certificate, the authority checks whether the operator meets the legal requirements and carries out a supervisory inspection at the operator's registered office for this purpose.

1,100.00 to 16,000.00 euros

The costs are calculated on a case-by-case basis depending on the complexity of the matter.

If commercial air traffic operations are carried out with aircraft other than performance class B or with technically complex helicopters or under instrument flight rules (IFR), the authority responsible for issuing the air operator's certificate (AOC) is the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt.

In this case, please contact the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, 38144 Braunschweig.

• Business registration
• Extract from the commercial register
• Police clearance certificate
• Operating manual

  according to ORO.MLR.100 of Regulation (EU) No 965/2012