New Airline Question

[ContractFlyGal]

If a new airline starts in the UK, are they required to do proving runs and a evacuation demonstration prior to receiving the Airworthiness Certificate for the aircraft?

[kenparry]

The aircraft type's Certificate of Airworthiness is attributable to the type, not the airline: the evacuation demo is part of type certification, so (provided the operator does not wish to install more seats than on the demo already done) no further evacuation is needed for a new airline. These evac demos are quite dangerous to the participants - there have been serious injuries. There has been discussion, for safety reasons, of replacing them by computer simulations, but I am not sure how far that has gone.
Route proving flights: not sure whether it's mandatory, but it makes sense to make sure that all the bits of the organisation do actually work before you start taking paying pax. The airline's magic piece of paper (in the UK) is called an AOC, Air Operator's Certificate, and holding that (issued by CAA) makes it legal to take paying pax.

[teachin]

To get an AOC you need to do a proving flight...

[Ops Dude]

You also need to have company manuals and training literature in place before the CAA will give you the AOC

[ContractFlyGal]

This particular airline has their AOC, has the Airworthiness Certificate for the aircraft...and is just waiting.....