Air Law and IACM Regulations
The regulatory framework
Mozambique's civil aviation is governed by the Instituto de Aviação Civil de Moçambique (IACM), which administers the Lei da Aviação Civil and the Regulamentos de Aviação Civil (RACs). The RACs are closely patterned on ICAO Annexes and, in many technical areas, on the FAA/EASA model, so candidates should know both the ICAO standard and the local variation. For a CPL-A holder the core documents are the licensing regulation (pilot licensing, privileges, recency, medical validity), the rules of the air, and operations rules for commercial air transport.
What the examiner tests
Know the privileges and limits of a CPL: you may act as PIC of aircraft engaged in non-scheduled commercial operations and as co-pilot in scheduled operations, but you may not act as PIC in scheduled public transport unless you hold an ATPL or the specific authorisation. Recency, class/type ratings, and medical certificate validity (Class 1 for commercial pilots) are frequent question targets.
Traps
- Confusing ICAO Annex numbers with RAC numbers; a question may cite the Annex standard when the RAC differs.
- Mixing validity periods: medical, rating, licence, and recency are all different.
- Forgetting that rules of the air apply to all aircraft, not only commercial ones.
- Assuming a foreign licence is automatically valid; validation/conversion is required.
Worked example
A Class 1 medical certificate for a commercial pilot under 40 is typically valid for 12 months; for pilots over 40, the period is commonly shortened to 6 months. If the question gives an age and asks validity, apply the age-based rule rather than the generic 12 months. Always check whether the question refers to the ICAO standard or the RAC provision before answering.