Guidance

Working and operating in the European aviation sector

What you need to do to work and operate in the aviation industry.

Requirements for aviation businesses operating in Europe

Aerospace businesses, airlines and aviation personnel need new or changed certification, licences and documentation to design, produce, maintain and operate aircraft between the UK and the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Personnel and organisations working in the aviation industry need to take action to ensure they continue to hold appropriate safety certificates and approvals. Actions required depend on individual circumstances.

See the Civil Aviation Authority actions for:

  • commercial pilots (Part-FCL licence)
  • cabin crew (attestation)
  • aircraft maintenance engineers (Part 66 licence)
  • air traffic controllers
  • approved and declared flight training organisations
  • engineering training organisations (Part 147)
  • flight training examiners
  • private pilots
  • UK-registered aircraft: qualified owners

Airline operating licences and certificates

Holders of airline operating licences and air operator’s certificates (AOC) need to take action to ensure they can continue to operate in and out of the UK and the EU. Actions required depend on individual circumstances.

Each business and individual should consider the possible actions for:

  • flight operations permissions, approvals, variations and exemptions (PAVEs)
  • market access
  • operational, route and air transport licences
  • ownership and control requirements of UK and EU airlines
  • requirements for passenger information
  • security arrangements for cargo and mail carriers and supply chain entities
  • security screening arrangements for passengers transferring between flights at EU airports
  • third country operators authorisations (Part-TCO)
  • wet-leasing aircraft
  • applying for a foreign carrier permit

Aircraft certification

Aerospace design, production and maintenance organisations need to take action to ensure they continue to hold appropriate safety certificates. Actions required depend on individual circumstances.

Each business and individual should consider the possible actions for:

  • aerospace design organisations
  • aerospace production organisations
  • aerospace maintenance organisations
  • continued airworthiness management organisations

Airports

The certificates issued to airports by the CAA remain valid. Airports and aerodromes should be largely unaffected by the changes to the safety regulatory regime.

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Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2020

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