Are the European operational rules applicable to an aircraft flying under a permit to fly?
Answer
European operational rules in general also apply to aircraft flying under a permit to fly but they do not apply to flights related to the introduction or modification of aircraft types conducted by design organisations (Comm. Reg. (EU) No 965/2012, Article 6(3)).
Generally, flights related to the introduction or modification of aircraft types conducted by design organisations are performed under a Permit to Fly issued for the following purposes:
- Development (21.A.701(a)1)
- Showing compliance with regulations or certification specifications (21.A.701(a)2)
- Design organisations or production organisations crew training (21.A.701(a)3)
- Market survey, incl. customer’s crew training (21.A.701(a)9)
- Exhibition and air show (21.A.701(a)10)
- Flying aircraft meeting the applicable airworthiness requirements before conformity to the environmental requirements has been found (21.A.701(a)14)
Also some flights performed under a Permit to Fly issued for the purpose of 21.A.701(a)11 (Flying the aircraft to a location where maintenance or airworthiness review are to be performed, or to a place of storage) could fulfil the description of Article 6(3) of 965/2012, but this must be validated on a case-by-case basis.
Such flights shall be operated considering national rules, regardless of whether they are conducted by Design Organisations, a sub-contracted organisation or an individual.
In case the operational rules are not self-evident, the flight conditions should explicitly identify the applicable OPS rules and conditions.