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AOC: How a Private Jet Operator Is Certified
What is an AOC (Air Operator Certificate)?
The AOC is the document by which a civil aviation authority recognises that an operator has the organisation, personnel, aircraft, manuals, maintenance and training required to conduct commercial flights safely. In Europe it is governed by Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, known as "Air OPS", whose Annex III (Part-ORO) sets out the requirements that apply to operators.
The AOC comes with operations specifications that define the authorised scope: aircraft types operated, geographic areas and specific approvals (instrument flight, dangerous goods, and so on). An operator may therefore fly only within the exact framework set by its certificate.
Who issues the AOC?
Issuance is the responsibility of the national competent authority. In France this is the DGAC, through its safety directorate the DSAC, which assesses and oversees the CTA. In Switzerland the authority is FOCA (the Federal Office of Civil Aviation). Both apply the common framework of EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, with Switzerland tied into this system through its air transport agreement with the European Union.
Outside Europe the principles are comparable. In the United States, on-demand charter is conducted under FAR Part 135, which sets the operating rules, while the certificate itself is issued under Part 119 by the FAA. Worldwide, the framework rests on ICAO standards (Annex 6).
The five phases of AOC certification
EASA and the national authorities structure the issuance of an initial AOC in five successive phases, led by a certification project manager appointed at the outset. The table below summarises what each phase involves.
| Phase | What happens |
| 1. Pre-application | The operator presents its project (business model, aircraft, areas) and submits a statement of intent. The authority sets out its expectations, the documents required and the schedule. |
| 2. Formal application | The file is submitted at least 90 days before the intended start of operations: application form, compliance checklists and manuals, including the Operations Manual, which must be provided no later than 60 days before. |
| 3. Document evaluation | The authority reviews manuals and procedures in detail, classifies the organisation (complex or non-complex) and requests any corrections before proceeding. |
| 4. Demonstration and inspection | On-site audits and demonstration flights over the planned routes, observed by inspectors, to verify real compliance of facilities, procedures and crews. |
| 5. Certification | Issuance of the AOC and its operations specifications, followed by the authority's continuing oversight. |
Each phase conditions the next: an incomplete file or a detected non-compliance halts progress until it is resolved. Acceptance of a document does not, in itself, amount to approval of its content, which is checked separately.
The key requirements of a certified operator
To obtain and keep its AOC, the operator must demonstrate a sound and durable organisation. The main requirements are as follows.
- Accountable manager: a person with the authority and financial means to ensure compliant operations, and responsible for the management system.
- Nominated persons: postholders appointed for flight operations, crew training, ground operations and continuing airworthiness.
- Management system: incorporating safety management (often referred to as an SMS, a term originating with ICAO) and a compliance monitoring function.
- Operations Manual: in Parts A to D, describing all of the operator's procedures.
- Continuing airworthiness: a dedicated organisation (CAMO) and airworthy aircraft listed on the AOC.
- Crews: qualified, trained and checked, with an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
- Insurance and facilities: cover compliant with the regulations and physical resources suited to the activity.
Timeline and cost
The regulatory milestones are precise: the formal application is filed at least 90 days before operations begin, and the Operations Manual no later than 60 days before. In practice, and according to industry sources, the full process generally takes 6 to 12 months, and can reach 18 to 24 months for complex organisations. EASA does not set an official total duration, which depends on the complexity of the operations and the quality of the file.
Cost varies widely with the aircraft type, the size of the fleet and the range of approvals sought. There is no fixed fee, but obtaining an AOC represents a significant investment, which partly explains the limited number of operators that are genuinely certified.
AOC, operating licence and continuing oversight
The AOC should not be confused with the operating licence. The AOC is the safety certificate (Regulation (EU) No 965/2012); the operating licence is the economic authorisation (Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008), which requires a valid AOC and sufficient financial standing. The two are linked: if the AOC is suspended or revoked, the licence is too.
Save for certain specific categories, the AOC is issued with no fixed expiry. It remains valid for as long as the operator stays compliant and submits to the authority's continuing oversight: regular audits, inspections, and prior approval of significant changes to the organisation or the fleet.
Broker or operator: an essential distinction
Certification clarifies a distinction that is often misunderstood. The operator holds the AOC, operates the aircraft, employs the crew and exercises operational control of the flight. The broker, by contrast, arranges the charter on behalf of its clients: it owns no aircraft, does not exercise operational control and therefore does not hold an AOC. We explain this role in our article on the added value of a charter broker.
A serious broker selects only operators that hold a valid AOC. It checks the certificate, the listing of the aircraft on the operations specifications, crew qualifications and insurance, and relies on recognised independent safety audits. A price that is abnormally low should raise concern: it may signal an illegal charter, outside the framework of an AOC. To weigh the options, see our comparison of owning versus chartering a private jet.
Why it matters for your safety
The AOC is the concrete guarantee that a flight is operated by an organisation that is audited and overseen by an authority. This is why IBC Aviation, an independent broker, works only with certified operators and compares for you the aircraft available within that base of operators. You can explore the subject further in our article on business aviation and passenger safety, browse our aircraft fleet or learn how a quote is built on our page about the cost of renting a private jet.
IBC Aviation private jet charter:
Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and your needs, drawing on certified operators. Available 24/7:
- France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
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- Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
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- Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com
Available 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AOC (Air Operator Certificate) and what is it for?
The AOC, known in French as the Certificat de Transporteur Aérien (CTA), is the safety certificate that authorises an operator to carry out commercial air transport. It confirms that the operator has the personnel, aircraft, organisation, manuals, maintenance and training needed to fly safely. In Europe it is governed by Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Part-ORO).
Who issues the certificate in France and in Switzerland?
In France the competent authority is the DGAC; within it, the DSAC issues and oversees the CTA. In Switzerland the authority is FOCA (the Federal Office of Civil Aviation), which applies the same EASA framework through the air transport agreement between the European Union and Switzerland.
What are the five phases of AOC certification?
1) Pre-application (project presentation and statement of intent); 2) formal application (application form, compliance checklists and manuals, including the Operations Manual); 3) document evaluation; 4) demonstration and inspection (on-site audits and demonstration flights over the planned routes); 5) certification (issuance of the AOC and its operations specifications), followed by continuing oversight.
How long does it take to obtain an AOC?
The formal application is filed at least 90 days before the intended start of operations, and the Operations Manual no later than 60 days before. In practice the full process generally takes 6 to 12 months, and up to 18 to 24 months for complex organisations. EASA does not set an official total duration.
What is the difference between an AOC and an operating licence?
The AOC (Regulation (EU) No 965/2012) is the safety certificate; the operating licence (Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008) is the economic authorisation, which requires a valid AOC and sufficient financial standing. If the AOC is suspended or revoked, the licence is too.
Does an AOC have an expiry date?
Save for certain specific categories, an AOC for commercial air transport is issued with no fixed expiry. It remains valid for as long as the operator stays compliant and submits to the authority's continuing oversight, and as long as it is not surrendered, suspended or revoked.
Does an air charter broker own an aircraft or hold an AOC?
No. An air charter broker is an intermediary that arranges the charter from certified operators. It does not operate aircraft, employ the crew or hold operational control: it therefore does not need an AOC and cannot hold one. The AOC is held by the operator that actually flies the aircraft.
How does a broker verify the operator's safety?
It retains only operators that hold a valid AOC and checks it: confirmation of the certificate, listing of the aircraft on the operations specifications, crew qualifications and sufficient insurance. It also relies on recognised independent safety audits. An abnormally low price may signal an illegal charter and should raise concern.
