Air Operator Certification and Commercial Air Transport
AOC requirement
Commercial air transport of passengers or cargo requires an air operator certificate issued by PCAA under Annex 6 Part I and the operations CARs. The AOC specifies the types and kinds of operation approved; it is not a route licence.
Certification process
- Formal application with the proposed operations manual, maintenance arrangements, training programmes and SMS documentation.
- Document evaluation, then demonstration and inspection, including proving flights where required.
- Issuance, followed by continuous surveillance, audits and ramp inspections.
- Variations for new types, routes or specialised operations. Key documents include the operations manual set, minimum equipment list, flight-time limitations scheme, dangerous goods and security programmes, and emergency procedures.
Worked example
An existing AOC holder wants to add a new aircraft type. This is a variation, not a new AOC: PCAA evaluates the type-specific manuals, maintenance capability, crew training and proving flights before adding the type to the operations specification.
Traps
An AOC does not confer traffic rights; a wet lease does not transfer the AOC; and the MEL is a dispatch document, not a maintenance permission.