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Summaries of EU Legislation

Commercial air transport operations

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 – technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS REGULATION?

It sets out the main rules and principles for establishing and maintaining a high and uniform level of civil aviation safety in the European Union (EU), set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (and previously in Regulation (EC) 216/2008).

KEY POINTS

The regulation includes detailed rules for:

  • air operations with aeroplanes and helicopters, including ramp inspections* of the aircraft of another country’s operators when landing at aerodromes located in the territory, subject to EU treaty rules;
  • conditions for issuing, maintaining, amending, limiting, suspending or revoking the certificates of aircraft operators carrying out commercial air transport operations*;
  • privileges and responsibilities of the certificate holders and conditions under which operations shall be prohibited, limited or subject to certain conditions in the interest of safety;
  • conditions and procedures for the declaration, by operators carrying out commercial specialised operations of aeroplanes and helicopters or non-commercial operations, of their capability and of the availability of the means to discharge the responsibilities associated with the operation of aircraft;
  • conditions and procedures for the oversight of such operators;
  • conditions under which certain high-risk commercial specialised operations shall be subject to authorisation in the interest of safety, and on the conditions for issuing, maintaining, amending, limiting, suspending or revoking such authorisations.

It does not apply to:

  • military, customs, police or similar air operations;
  • air operations with tethered balloons and airships or tethered balloon flights;
  • balloons – dedicated proportionate, risk-based operational rules for balloons have been laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/395;
  • sailplanes – detailed rules for the operation of sailplanes have been laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1387 introduced changes to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards the requirements for aeroplane landing performance calculations and the standards for assessing the runway surface conditions. It also provided an update on certain aircraft safety equipment and requirements, and on operations that do not hold extended-range approval.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 28 October 2012.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

KEY TERMS

Ramp inspection. A check performed prior to take-off, including an inspection of documentation, flight plans and the aircraft itself.
Commercial air transport operation. An aircraft operation to transport passengers, cargo or mail for profit.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 of 5 October 2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 296, 25.10.2012, pp. 1–148).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1176 of 7 August 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1387 as regards postponing dates of application of certain measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (OJ L 259, 10.8.2020, pp. 10–11).

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1387 of 1 August 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards requirements for aeroplane landing performance calculations and the standards for assessing the runway surface conditions, update on certain aircraft safety equipment and requirements and operations without holding an extended range operational approval (OJ L 229, 5.9.2019, pp. 1–23).

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976 of 14 December 2018 laying down detailed rules for the operation of sailplanes pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 326, 20.12.2018, pp. 64–75).

See consolidated version.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1042 of 23 July 2018 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, as regards technical requirements and administrative procedures related to introducing support programmes, psychological assessment of flight crew, as well as systematic and random testing of psychoactive substances to ensure medical fitness of flight and cabin crew members, and as regards equipping newly manufactured turbine-powered aeroplanes with a maximum certified take-off mass of 5 700 kg or less and approved to carry six to nine passengers with a terrain awareness warning system (OJ L 188, 25.7.2018, pp. 3–8).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (OJ L 212, 22.8.2018, pp. 1–122).

See consolidated version.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March 2018 laying down detailed rules for the operation of balloons pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 71, 14.3.2018, pp. 10–35).

See consolidated version.

last update 02.10.2023

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