Owning and Flying an Aircraft in Ireland

CAN I BE A REGISTERED OWNER?

Yes, if you are an Irish citizen or an EU citizen with a place of residence in the Republic of Ireland. A limited company registered with the Company Registration Office (CRO) may also be listed as the registered owner, provided two thirds of the directors of the company are EU citizens.

An application for registration must be submitted to the IAA.. The registration application form requests data on the applicant, the aircraft, the intended operation and related details such as equipment configuration, insurance , COMREG radio licence, etc. For more information on registering an aircraft please see Aircraft Registration Requirements.

By becoming a registered owner you assume a number of responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to: ensuring the aircraft is safe for flight each time it is flown, ensure it meets all mandatory requirements that may be issued by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) or the IAA from time to time, ensure it is flown within the operation limitations laid down for the aircraft and advise the IAA if any incident which compromises the safety of the aircraft or a person should occur.

WILL MY AIRCRAFT BE ACCEPTED?

The vast majority of aircraft applications submitted to the IAA are accepted, however, there are some important issues that may prevent an aircraft receiving registration.

Aircraft designs acceptable for operation in Europe are certified by EASA. This certification is in the form of a Type Certificate and establishes that a particular design of aircraft meets the European standard for safety.

Certain aircraft are excluded from the requirement to have a Type certificate. Examples are historic aircraft, aircraft having a clear historical relevance, aircraft of which at least 51 % is built by an amateur (homebuilt), two-seater aeroplanes or helicopters with maximum mass not exceeding 450 kg. For these aircraft the IAA certification department will review the type and, if satisfied, issue an acceptance of type document.

If your aircraft does not have an EASA type certificate or does not qualify to receive an IAA acceptance of type then it will not be registered. For more detailed information see Certification.

Each individual serial number aircraft will also receive certification - a Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) or a national Permit to Fly. Before issuing this document, an IAA inspector or accredited organisation will audit the aircraft (new, homebuilt or second hand) to ensure the aircraft meets all the airworthiness and operation requirements. Often problems arise with incomplete maintenance records, unapproved equipment installations or unapproved repairs. These issues can often lead to lengthy delays if not adequately addressed by the owner.

ARE THERE ON-GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING MY AIRCRAFT?

Absolutely. The aircraft must be maintained in an airworthy condition by following an approved maintenance programme, including compliance with all mandatory actions issued by EASA or IAA.

In addition, you must complete an annual airworthiness review. At present this audit is performed by IAA inspectors or by accredited organisations. In the near future the annual airworthiness review on aircraft holding an EASA CofA may be completed by appropriately approved EASA Part M organisations.

WHO CAN FLY IN MY AIRCRAFT?

There are different licences for the different categories of aircraft and detailed information is provided in the licencing section of this website, however, some important information should be noted:

You must hold a valid EU Private pilot license (PPL) to pilot an EASA type certified aircraft for private non commercial (pleasure) flying. This allows you carry passengers but not for reward.

• To carry passengers for reward (Public Transport) you must hold a commercial pilots licence (CPL) and an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). An AOC has more stringent requirements for maintenance and operation of the aircraft. Likewise aircraft to be used for aerial work must meet additional requirements. More detailed information can be obtained in the operations section of this website.

WHAT DOES IT ALL COST?

Owning and operating an aircraft can be an expensive business. In particular, unplanned maintenance and replacement parts can be costly and it is worth researching these costs before making any decision to purchase.

IAA charges are relatively small and our charges are typically levied based on weight of the aircraft. For example, the basic charges for an aircraft under 1000kg are €70 registration and €480 to €600 for the Certificate of Airworthiness.

Additional charges can apply. For example, an out of sequence registration mark or initial audit of the aircraft outside Ireland will incur additional charges. Full details on charges are available in the charges section of this website.