Aircraft Registration, Airworthiness and Nationality
Nationality and registration
Under Chicago Articles 17-20 an aircraft has the nationality of the State of registry. Pakistan registers aircraft with the nationality mark AP, and the registration certificate is issued by PCAA. Registration establishes jurisdiction, but it does not by itself prove airworthiness.
Airworthiness framework
- The certificate of registration identifies the aircraft; the certificate of airworthiness (C of A) certifies that the type design and the individual aircraft conform to the approved standard.
- Pakistan recognises type certificates and supplemental type certificates, and requires modifications to be approved before embodiment.
- Continuing airworthiness runs through an approved maintenance programme, an approved maintenance organisation, and an airworthiness review that supports C of A renewal.
- A C of A is normally valid for a defined period and is supported by an airworthiness review certificate; it can be suspended for overdue maintenance, unapproved modifications or unresolved defects.
- Article 83 bis allows Pakistan to transfer certain oversight functions to another State by agreement, typically in a lease.
Worked example
An operator imports a second-hand aircraft. Registration is granted first, but the C of A is not automatic: PCAA checks the export C of A, type acceptance, conformity, maintenance status and modification records, then issues a Pakistan C of A. The aircraft cannot enter commercial service on the registration certificate alone.
Traps
Registration is not airworthiness; an export C of A is not a Pakistan C of A; and a lapsed maintenance check can invalidate the C of A even if the document appears current.