How to apply for a initial issue of an Air Operator’s Certificate
Step 1 – Complete an AOC application form
You will need to complete an AOC Application Form 1049. Form 1049 is in 6 parts (A to F). See below for the parts applicable to your operation.
The form provides the guidelines necessary for you to complete each part. You need to read these guidelines carefully.
To obtain an application pack for initial issue, download the parts relevant to your application.
All applicants must complete these two parts
- Part A – Details of Applicant (108 kb PDF)
- Completion of this part is mandatory.
This part is where you tell CASA who the applicant is. The applicant is the legal entity – an organisation or an individual - whose name will appear on the AOC when issued. - Part B – Detail of Key Personnel and Facilities (104 kb PDF)
- Completion of this part is mandatory.
You need to provide in this section details of your key personnel, proposed organisation and your facilities (CAO 82.1 and CAO 82.3)
Complete the parts relevant to your operations from this group
- Part C – Aerial Work excluding Flying School (80 kb PDF)
- If you propose to conduct aerial work activities, you need to complete this part.
- Part D – Flying School (72 kb PDF)
- If you propose to conduct Flying School activities, you need to complete this part
- Part E – Charter Operations (72 kb PDF)
- If you propose to conduct charter operations, you need to complete this part.
- Part F – Regular Public Transport (72 kb PDF)
- If you propose to conduct regular public transport operations, you need to complete this part.
Other requirements
While not required to be submitted together with the application, it is advisable that you start preparing all the other requirements that will be required during the assessment of your AOC application. These requirements may include any of the following:
- Operations Manual
- Compliance Statement
- Flight Check System
- Training and Checking Manual
- Dangerous Goods Manual
- Maintenance Control Manual
- System of Maintenance
- Maintenance Controller
- Minimum Equipment List
- Financial Viability Statements
- Schedule of Events
- Carriers Liability Insurance
- Head of Aircraft Airworthiness and Maintenance Control
- Chief Pilot
If you need to discuss your application or require help in completing this application, please contact the CASA Service Centre .
Step 2 – Submit a completed and signed application Form 1049
The form should be sent to the CASA Service Centre if you are a General Aviation Operator, alternatively if you are a High Capacity Operator the form should be sent to your Air Transport Operations Group (ATOG) Field Office Manager.
Step 3 – Review of your application
The Service Centre will review the application to ensure that you have answered the relevant questions and provided any documents asked for in the application.
Should the application be incomplete, we will contact you and provide you with the opportunity to address the shortfall. Please remember that your application will be returned to you if you do not address the shortfall within a reasonable period of time.
Step 4 – Payment of Costs and submission of required supporting documents
An estimate of costs to process the application will be forwarded to you. The estimate is based on hourly rate and will cover CASA’s assessment and/or inspections of your written procedures, key personnel and your facilities. An amount is also included to process and issue the certificate.
The estimate letter will also contain, if applicable, a list of documents we further require in support of your application. If you wish to go ahead with your application, you will be required to:
- Pay the amount required in the estimate letter
- Submit the list of supporting documents
A description of the estimate process is in our Fees and charges section.
Assessment of your application will only commence when CASA has received your payment and supporting documents.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with what CASA does and what your role is in the assessment process.