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Third Country Operators Authorisations

In accordance with articles 9 and 23 of the new Basic Regulation, (EC) Regulation No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008, which entered into force on 8 April 2008, the Agency is given a number of new tasks with regards to operators of aircraft registered in a third country, or registered in a Member State which has delegated their regulatory safety oversight to a third country, and used by a third country operator into, within or out of the Community.

In the case of operators of aircraft engaged in commercial operations the Agency shall :

  • conduct, itself or through national aviation authorities or qualified entities, investigations and audits;
  • issue and renew the authorisations referred to in Article 9(2), unless a Member State carries out the functions and tasks of the state of operator in respect of these operators;
  • amend, limit, suspend or revoke the relevant authorisation when the conditions according to which it was issued by it are no longer fulfilled, or if the organisation concerned fails to fulfil the obligations imposed on it by this Regulation or its implementing rules.

In the case of operators of aircraft not engaged in commercial operations the Agency shall

  • receive the declarations referred to in Article 9(3); and
  • conduct, itself or through national aviation authorities or qualified entities, the oversight of operators from which it has received a declaration.

The Agency shall commence these new tasks as from the date specified in the respective implementing rules, but not later than 8 April 2012 (Art. 70).

Please refer to the rulemaking pages for further information.