Applying for an AOC - A guide to the process

AOC application assessment process

The assessment of your AOC application will not commence until CASA has received the required payment and list of supporting documents.

The assessment process is comprised of the following steps:

1. Contact Service Centre
2. Send application form
3. Application receipt
4. CASA provides estimate
5. Pay estimate and send doco
6. CASA assesses app
7. Recommendation
8. Delegate reviews app
9. Application approved

It is important that you familiarise yourself with what CASA does and what your role is in the assessment process.

A - Preliminary Assessment

Once payment and supporting documents are received, the CASA Service Centre will carry out a preliminary review of your written procedures for general content and the supporting information for technical correctness.

If the application package is correct, the application will be allocated to the CASA Area Offices located closest to your operation for a detailed assessment.

If the application package is not correct or insufficient, all or part of the package will be returned to you for correction or completion.

Failure to provide any supporting documentation within reasonable timeframes may result in your application being suspended. CASA will cancel any applications that remain suspended / dormant for more than 90 days.

B – Pre-Assessment Meeting (if required)

A meeting with you just prior to the formal assessment of your AOC application may be requested by CASA.

This meeting provides you and CASA the opportunity to discuss the application, each other’s expectations and address any issues that may arise. The assessing Area Office will host this meeting.

CASA will inform you if a pre-assessment meeting is required and in which case, you have to contact the CASA Area Office to arrange a suitable time for the meeting.

C – Detailed Assessment

The detailed assessment involves two stages:

• Document Evaluation
• Inspections and Proving Flights

The detailed assessment is carried out in accordance with requirements under the Civil Aviation Act, Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Air Operator Certification Manual.

D – Recommendation and approval

Once the assessment is complete, the certification process is commenced at the area office who prepares a recommendation to the CASA delegate to issue or not to issue the Air Operator’s Certificate.

At this stage, you will also be informed if the recommendation varies from what you have applied for or if the application is declined.

E – Certificate Issue

If approved, your Air Operator’s Certificate will be emailed or faxed to you on the same day and the original forwarded by mail.

The Service Centre will also reconcile the actual hours against the estimated hours for the assessment and either a refund or any invoice to cover additional costs will be included in the mail.