EASA aircraft means an aircraft which is required by the Basic EASA Regulation and any implementing rules adopted by the Commission in accordance with that Regulation to hold an EASA certificate of airworthiness, an EASA restricted certificate of airworthiness or an EASA permit to fly.

Operator means any legal or natural person, operating or proposing to operate one or more aircraft or one or more aerodromes.

The term complex motor-powered is defined in Article 3 (letter (j)) of the Basic Regulation: 

Other than complex motor-powered aircraft means an aircraft that is not: 
an aeroplane: 

• with a maximum certificated take-off mass exceeding 5700 kg, or
• certificated for a maximum passenger seating configuration of more than nineteen, or
• certificated for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots, or
• equipped with (a) turbojet engine(s) or more than one turboprop engine, or
• more than one turboprop engine and a MCTOM exceeding 5700 kg*.

a helicopter certificated: 

• for a maximum take-off mass exceeding 3175 kg, or
• for a maximum passenger seating configuration of more than nine, or
• for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots, or
• a tilt rotor aircraft.

*A derogation has been agreed to allow non-commercial operations of twin turboprop aeroplanes, with a MCTOM of 5,700 kg or less, to be operated under Part-NCO rules.

EASA has deferred Air Operations and Pilot Licensing regulations for balloons and sailplanes: 

• Balloons - 8 April 2018
• Sailplanes - 8 April 2019

Under Part-NCO operators can use an alternative means of compliance (AltMoC) to comply with an implementing rule without informing or gaining approval from the competent authority.

NCO.GEN.101 allows an NCO operator to use AltMoCs without any further requirements or limitations. The rules in Part-NCO were written to preserve a proportional approach to the level of risk for this type of operation. We can verify an AltMoC used by an NCO operator during oversight activities. 

Under Part-NCO an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) or personal locator beacon (PLB) needs to be carried on every aircraft for every flight.

Implementing rule NCO.IDE.A.170 sets out the requirement to have an ELT or a PLB fitted so it is clear that an ELT or a PLB must be carried on all flights.

The pilot of an N-registered aircraft (who is not in breach of any FAA regulations and is in compliance with the Air Ops regulations) can benefit from the cost-sharing derogation.

An NCO pilot that operates an N-registered aircraft in a Community Member State has to follow the Reg. (EU) 965/2012. This means that the cost-shared flights derogation - with its conditions mentioned in Art. 6.4a(a) - is applicable.