Originally Posted by
Avioactive
The UK CAA website states:
'Once the UK has left the EU, airlines with UK AOC’s would be considered ‘third country’ operators (TCOs) within the meaning of Article 4(1)(d) of the Basic Regulation (Article 1b(ii) in Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (“New Basic”)) and other EU legislation on aviation safety.
TCOs require a safety authorisation from EASA in accordance with Articles 9 and 23of the Basic Regulation (Section VIII of the New Basic Regulation) to operate in the EU.
There is an outstanding question as to whether EASA would allow applications for TCO status from airlines within an existing EU Member State before 29th March 2019.
The CAA has not been able to enter direct conversations with EASA about how it intends to ensure continuity of service. Therefore, airlines should as soon as possible contact EASA to understand what actions they can take to seek TCO status and the relevant safety authorisation before the UK formally withdraws.
It takes 'several months' for some operators to get their outfit inspected as part of the Part-TCO application process - off the EASA site:
'How much in advance should an application for TCO authorisation be submitted before the intended starting date of our EU operations?
TCO.300 (b)(1) requires the application at least 30 days before the intended starting date of operation. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you submit the application well in advance of the intended operation. This will allow for sufficient lead time as the Agency, under ART.200(b), may need to conduct a further assessment. Where EASA decides to invite operators for a meeting or to perform an on-site audit,
the TCO authorisation process can take several months, especially when the technical assessment results in findings that have to be closed before EASA can issue the authorisation.
See:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agenc...-authorisation
That's for UK operators applying to EASA which might also entail a trip to Cologne. For European operators now wanting to get the same from the UK CAA, who knows how long that will take - how many EASA charter companies will want/need access to the the UK?!