Permit to fly

A permit to fly becomes necessary when the certificate of airworthiness is for some reason invalid or cannot be issued, but the aircraft is nevertheless capable of performing a safe flight. Provisions concerning permits to fly are issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA. The provisions apply to aircraft for whose design EASA is responsible, which means practically all type-certificated aircraft.

To obtain a permit to fly, an application form must be completed and submitted to Trafi. In the case of private aviation with simple aircraft, or such aircraft types that cannot be issued with a regular or restricted certificate of airworthiness, the application may only be made by the registered owner of the aircraft.

Flight conditions approved by Trafi or EASA

Flight conditions will generally be approved by Trafi. The conditions are then included in the permit to fly, and a separate application is not necessary.

Examples of such cases:

• the certificate of airworthiness or airworthiness review certificate has expired
• transfer or export of a new aircraft with approved design
• need to demonstrate that the aircraft or aircraft type continuously meets EASA's earlier standard for the issue or re-issue of a (restricted) certificate of airworthiness.

Flight conditions relating to the safety of aircraft design will be approved by EASA. This includes cases where:

• the aircraft does not conform to an approved design
• an airworthiness limitation, certification maintenance requirement or airworthiness directive has not been complied with, or
• the intended flights are outside the approved envelope.

Aircraft not monitored by EASA

Aircraft not monitored by EASA are listed in Annex II to Regulation (EC) 216/2008. These include e.g. ultralight and amateur-built aircraft. Moreover, aircraft used by the police, the customs and the Border Guard are not monitored by EASA. Permits to fly to these aircraft are granted under national procedures.