Third Country Operators (UK- Part TCO)

NOTE THAT TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS TO THE UK AFTER ITS EXIT FROM THE EU A VALID TCO MUST BE IN PLACE

Requirement

UK Part TCO

Commission Regulation (EU) No. 452/2014, requires all Third Country Operators to hold a “Part-TCO”, from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) prior to undertaking any commercial flight within the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA).  The CAA will take responsibility for administering all “Part-TCOs” in respect of commercial services undertaken within UK territory on the UK’s exit from the EU (a “UK-Part TCO”).  

The CAA wishes to ensure that the minimum possible regulatory burden is placed on air carriers in taking on that role. The following streamlined process will therefore be adopted.

1) Air carriers certified outside the EU27 or European Free Trade Area (EFTA)

The UK will continue to recognise any Part-TCO issued EASA for a period of up to two years from the day of the UK’s Exit from the EU, or until that approval is replaced with a UK equivalent.  The CAA’s acceptance of an EASA TCO will be dependent upon that approval continuing to be valid for operations within the ECAA for all aircraft that it is intended to operate in the UK.

Note the CAA will not consider any UK Part-TCO applications for operations within UK territory by air carriers certified outside the EU until after the UK’s exit.  Details of that process will be published at that time.

2) Air Carriers certified within the EU27 and EFTA only

To ensure service continuity by EU27 and EFTA air carriers after the UK leaves the EU, the CAA will now accept advance applications from such air carriers for UK-Part TCO approvals.

Application Process 

The UK Part TCO application form can be found here. The following information will need to be submitted with an application:

• A copy of your Certificate of Incorporation/Business Registration;
• A copy of your existing AOC and associated Operations Specifications
• A schedule of aircraft it is planned to operate.

Note 

1. Incomplete applications will not be processed until all outstanding information has been received.
2. No administration fee is payable provided a complete application is submitted before 29 March 2019

Timeline

Applications should be sent as soon as possible. Any application received after Thursday, 14 March 2019 will be considered as soon as possible, but a decision may not be made until after Friday, 29 March 2019 (currently the date the UK would exit the EU unless a transition period is agreed).

Validity

A UK Part-TCO authorisation issued to a EU27, EEA or Swiss AOC holder will become valid at the point the UK exits the EU.

Note that in addition to a UK-Part TCO any commercial operations to the UK will also require a Foreign Carrier Permit issued by the CAA – details can be found here.

If you have any queries in relation to the above then please do not hesitate to contact us either by email or on 0044 (0)207-453-6333. 

List of operators granted full UK-TCO