Private Aircraft Operations License

In accordance with Civil Aviation Rules 1994, National Aviation Policy-2019 and Air Navigation Order ANO-001-ATNR, Private Aircraft Operations Licence is issued by DG CAA and where applicable after the approval of the Federal Government, for carriage of passengers in the following categories:-

·      Private Aircraft Operations – Domestic

a.    Class-I

b.    Class-II

·         Private Aircraft Operations – International

c.    Class-I

d.   Class-II

·         Class-I means operation with aircraft having AUW of less than 5700 Kgs

·         Class-II means operation with aircraft having AUW 5700 Kgs and above

Requirements

• Registration of the Company shall be as Private or Public Ltd under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by SECP or on Partnership deed by Joint Registrar of Firm.
• Security deposit for Private Aircraft Operations Licence Class-I and Class-II Rs. 5.0 Million to be submitted before the grant of License.
• A sound detail of purpose of aircraft.
• Registration documents like the Memorandum and Articles of Association, where applicable, share allocation form duly verified by Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Trust Deed, bank references three years projected book of accounts prepared by registered Charter Accountants Firm, and any other documents to prove to the satisfaction of CAA that the airline is a legally established body capable of operating commercial flights. (To be submitted with application for License).
• Comprehensive insurance policy covering aircraft, crew, passenger/cargo and third party risks at the level specified by ICAO conventions, prevailing CAA regulations and Government Gazette Notification on Passenger insurance liabilities.
• Security clearance of company is respect of CEO/Owner/Director/Major Share holders shall be mandatory. If any owner / CE / Director(s) are not security cleared or there are serious or adverse observations by the Security / Intelligence Agencies at any stage, the Operator / Company / Individuals concerned shall have to comply with the instructions of the Federal Government / DG CAA. In case of non-compliance within the stipulated time or failure to submit any valid justification in this regard, the licence / AOC shall be liable to suspension / cancellation in accordance with Rules / Regulations / Conditions of Licence.

Issuance of Private Aircraft Operations License

• An applicant shall apply on prescribed CAA Form duly filled, and signed by Chief Executive of the Company / person, if applicable, to DAT & ER along with the requisite documents. After verification of documents and resolution of objections, if any, the applicant shall take ID and Password from AT & ER Directorate, and afterwards shall submit the application on-line and also submit hard copies to AT&ER Directorate (sixteen sets).
• Applications received will be scrutinized by Air Transport & ER Directorate for acceptance / rejection within 3 days of receipt of the application.
• Applications once accepted will be processed by AT & ER Directorate in consultation with the other concerned Directorates of CAA within a period of 15 days.

• The scrutinized application, if considered to be in order at AT Directorate, will be seen and assessed by DG CAA and subsequently sent to security agencies for security clearance and the Federal Government, where applicable. The approving authorities are as follows:-

§  DG CAA, for Private Aircraft Operations Class-I domestic operations.

§  Federal Government, for Private Aircraft Operations Class I & II                                                (Domestic & International) operations.

• On receipt of the requisite approval from the Federal Government / DG CAA, Private Aircraft Operations License will be issued by AT&ER Directorate after deposit of the security deposit, bank guarantee and License issuance fee.

·         The License is only a permission to develop a Private Aircraft operation organization and in no way qualifies the Licensee to start Private Aircraft  operations which can only be carried out after issuance of an Approval Certificate (AC). It is necessary that before commencement of operations, the Company/person should become fully conversant and comply with Civil Aviation Rules 1994; National Aviation Policy-2015, Air Navigation Orders (ANOs), Airworthiness Notices issued from time to time and relevant international practices / requirements.

·         The licence shall be issued for a year and is renewable annually.

Fleet Requirements

·         Minimum fleet requirement is: One airworthy aircraft for operations of relevant class.

·         Fleet registration in Pakistan is mandatory.

·         The Applicant intending to import / export an aircraft / helicopter on ownership or lease basis, shall apply to Airworthiness Directorate, CAA.

Condition of Air Operator Certificate

·         After the issuance of Private Aircraft Operations License to Firm / person by the Federal Government / DG CAA, it is mandatory that the operator has to obtain an AC within two years of issuance of License.

Renewal of Private Aircraft Operations Licence

·         The Licence holder (Licensee) shall apply to the Director Air Transport & ER, HQCAA, Karachi, on the Company’s Letterhead for renewal of licence along with applicable renewal fee at least 90 days before expiry of the licence. In case of failure, the holder, in addition to the normal fee shall pay surcharge Rs 2000/- per month or part thereof. In case of receipt of application for renewal after expiry of the licence, no waiver or extension to the licence shall be granted until approval of the Competent Authority in the National and General Public interest, as per ANO:-

• On receipt of the application, AT & ER Directorate shall seek comments / no objection of the CAA specialist directorates i.e. Finance, Flight Standards, Airworthiness, Consumer Protection and Economic Oversight section and if applicable / required of Legal directorate.
• The licensee should clear all CAA outstanding dues, if any, before application of renewal of the License in coordination with CAA Billing section.
• On receipt of the no objection of the concerned directorates, approval of the DG CAA shall be sought for referring the matter to the Federal Government, as the case may be, for final approval.

·            On receipt of the approval of the Federal Government / DG CAA, the renewed License shall be issued by the AT & ER Directorate.

Note:-

·         The operator is advised to apprise this Directorate, immediately, in case of any change in company’s ownership / hierarchy / major share holders or in the top management, duly certified by Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan / Joint Registrar of Firm, for updating our record and necessary action.

·         Clearance of CAA dues

·         According to para 4.3.3 of NAP-2019, “if any operator defaults on outstanding dues for a period equivalent of two (02) Fortnightly Bills, its operation shall be suspended and recovery shall be made from attachment and/or sale of its tangible and intangible assets. In case of non-compliance the onus will lie on the regulator while operators’ security shall be forfeited with markup”.

·         Upon default of two billing cycles, following mechanism shall be adopted for taking appropriate and regulatory action for recovery of CAA dues:-

·         Finance Directorate shall adjust the advance three billing cycles / security deposit against outstanding dues and inform AT&ER Directorate for necessary action.

·         Suspension of flight operations with immediate effect

·         Issuance of Show Cause Notice for personal hearing

·         In case un-satisfactory reply, Suspension of Licence with prior approval of Federal Government.

·         Cancellation of licence and recovery of outstanding dues from attachment and / or sale of its tangible and intangible assets.