Aircraft registration, airworthiness and maintenance requirements
Registration
PNG-registered aircraft carry the nationality mark P2- and a registration mark. CASA maintains the register and issues the certificate of registration. Registration establishes nationality, not airworthiness. Changes of ownership, address or markings must be notified, and the certificate should be carried as required. An unregistered aircraft may not be operated unless a specific permission applies.
Airworthiness and maintenance
The aircraft must hold a valid certificate of airworthiness or permit and be maintained under an approved programme by appropriately authorised persons or organisations. Maintenance releases, logbooks, defect recording and component records support continuing airworthiness. Major repairs or modifications require approved data and certification. The PIC should not accept an aircraft with known unrectified defects that affect safety.
Worked example
An imported aircraft arrives with a foreign certificate of airworthiness and a fresh annual inspection. The buyer plans to start local charter immediately. The foreign certificate does not automatically make the aircraft PNG-airworthy. It must be registered in PNG, assessed for issue of a PNG certificate or validation, and placed on an approved maintenance programme with correct records before commercial operation.
Traps
Registration is not airworthiness. A maintenance release is not a permanent licence to fly. Do not assume a foreign annual inspection satisfies PNG continuing-airworthiness requirements. Do not fly with a known defect merely because the aircraft can still be taxied.