Question about an AOC...

[Jakey-wakey]

Hi Everyone,
I assume that the 'Ops' forum is the right palce to ask this question - forgive me if not, I am new to all this...

I understand that an Air Operators Certificate is required for an airline wishing to transport passengers etc, and the two types of AOC (A and B) that can be issued (found that on CAA website), but I am stuck on the finer details of the restrictions of these certificates and how they vary from country to country.

Basically, what areas are governed/restricted by the specific company's AOC? Engineering practices? Crewing I think? I'm a bit confused! I am keen to find out in which areas an AOC from a UK operator, for example, will differ from that of a French operator... Or will it?

Can anyone point me in the right direction of a place I can find such info or offer some clarification?

Thanks a lot

Jake

[michael.e]

Not able to help on your exact question on UK- French differences but here is maybe a go that will help you.

Airline Operator Certificate is a simple certificate. The AOC is used in cooperation with Operation Specifications that outline in detail what the company is allowed to do and how. Most CAA's will issue normally a blanket AOC with vary basic details and as things change the operator will update the Ops Spec's to reflect reality.

On the other side, an AOC can have any amount of information depending on the country. I have seen them with everything from only the airline address to aircraft type and registration, type of operations (pax/cargo/mail, scheduled/charter,...), base of operations, routes allowed, dangerous goods,...

Operation Specifications are minute details of the AOC that contains all the additional information and approvals that make up the real meat of what the company is allowed to do and not do.

In the end the ICAO/JAA/EASA/FAA set a regulatory frame work that all airlines worldwide need to work within. The exact rules may be slightly different but in the end they same information must be documented meeting the international standards.

[Kiwiguy]

My tuppence worth, isn't it true that an airline must hold a different AOC for every specific aircraft type used ?

I say that because an airline must have the ops manuals written and approved for each type.

[michael.e]

Company normally only get one AOC, the AOC is a company wide document that covers the entire operation.

The additional types and aircraft are (normally) entered on the operations specifications. The Ops Spec normally contains everything into fine details like allowing MEL operations, listing management, listing approved ops manual, special requirements, company maintenance capability,..... pages and pages of details about each type.