Air Operator's Certificate
Encyclopedia
An air operator's certificate (AOC) is the approval granted from a national aviation authority
(NAA) to an aircraft
operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public. The certificate will list the aircraft types and registrations to be used, for what purpose and in what area - specific airports or geographic region.
Low capacity operations is when operating aircraft with under 38 passenger seats, high capacity is above that.
and then more easily changed into another business. This has occurred with FLYi
airline's AOC being bought by Northwest Airlines
to start Compass Airlines
, now a feeder airline
for Delta Air Lines
marketed as Delta Connection
), and also with Strategic Airlines
purchasing the AOC, staff and routes of the failed OzJet
airlines.
, the Federal Aviation Administration
is to maintain an airline air carriers operating certificate in the category of fitness an air carrier must maintain the following three standards http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1999/dot4199.htm: adequate financing, competent management
, a willingness to comply with applicable laws, and regulations which include at least 75 percent of airlines controlling voting equity must be held by US citizens.
National aviation authority
The National Aviation Authority is the government statutory authority in each country that oversees the approval and regulation of civil aviation.-Role:...
(NAA) to an aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public. The certificate will list the aircraft types and registrations to be used, for what purpose and in what area - specific airports or geographic region.
Categories
AOCs can be granted for one or more of the following activities:- Aerial surveying
- Aerial spotting
- Agricultural operations
- Aerial photography
- Aerial advertising
- Fire fighting
- Air ambulanceAir ambulanceAn air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
or aeromedical - Flight TrainingFlight trainingFlight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
- Charter (low capacity and high capacity)
- Regular public transport (RPT) (low capacity and high capacity)
Low capacity operations is when operating aircraft with under 38 passenger seats, high capacity is above that.
Requirements
The requirements for obtaining an AOC vary from country to country, but are generally defined as:- Sufficient personnel with the required experience for the type of operations requested,
- Airworthy aircraft, suitable for the type of operations requested,
- Acceptable systems for the training of crew and the operation of the aircraft (Operations Manual)
- A quality system to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed,
- The appointment of key accountable staff, who are responsible for specific safety critical functions such as training, maintenance and operations,
- Carriers Liability Insurance (for Airlines) - Operators are to have sufficient insurance to cover the injury or death of any passenger carried.
- Proof that the operator has sufficient finances to fund the operation
- The operator has sufficient ground infrastructure, or arrangements for the supply of sufficient infrastructure, to support its operations into the ports requested.
- The certificate is held by a legal person who resides in the country or region of application (for EASAEASAEASA may refer to:* European Aviation Safety Agency* English Academy of Southern Africa* European Architecture Students Assembly* European Association of Social Anthropologists...
)
International variations
An AOC is referred to as a Air Carrier Operating Certificate in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Transfer
As an AOC shows the acceptance of the relevant NNA of the operators personnel, infrastructure and procedures, it holds value. In most jurisdiction an AOC may be sold or acquired to prevent the arduous process of gaining regulator acceptance for a new AOC. This can allow failed airlines to be sold as a going concernGoing concern
A going concern is a business that functions without the threat of liquidation for the foreseeable future, usually regarded as at least within 12 months.-Definition of the 'going concern' concept:...
and then more easily changed into another business. This has occurred with FLYi
FLYi
FLYi, Inc., previously known as Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, Inc., was a Delaware airline holding company based in the Dulles area of unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia. Prior to filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, the company operated Independence Air.-History:Atlantic Coast Airlines...
airline's AOC being bought by Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
to start Compass Airlines
Compass Airlines (North America)
Compass Airlines is a regional airline headquartered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota; prior to December 16, 2009, it was headquartered in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, east of the Chantilly CDP...
, now a feeder airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
marketed as Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
), and also with Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as Air Australia Airways is a scheduled passenger and charter airline with its head office in Hendra, Brisbane, Australia,...
purchasing the AOC, staff and routes of the failed OzJet
OzJet
Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd was a scheduled and charter airline with its head office in Tullamarine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, operating within Australasia from Melbourne Airport, Sydney Airport and Perth Airport. In 2008 the airline was sold to HeavyLift Cargo Airlines, and on 20 May 2009 it...
airlines.
United States
According to the United States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
is to maintain an airline air carriers operating certificate in the category of fitness an air carrier must maintain the following three standards http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1999/dot4199.htm: adequate financing, competent management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, a willingness to comply with applicable laws, and regulations which include at least 75 percent of airlines controlling voting equity must be held by US citizens.