Classification and Status of Aerodromes
By departmental subordination, aerodromes and heliports are divided into those of civil aviation and of state aviation. With respect to the aerodromes and heliports of civil and state aviation, the Code and the subordinate acts issued on its basis classify the airspace and establish the respective airspace and the type of air traffic service. The status of an international airport or heliport is conferred by the Government of Georgia — a decision that also determines the boundaries of flight operations: international status means the right to operate foreign carriage, and that is why its conferral is not a technical but a political decision — at the level of the Government. For the aerodrome this status widens the circle of possibilities, for the user the choice of routes.
Certification, Registration and Recording
It is noteworthy that classification also concerns the airspace: by the Code and the acts issued on its basis the airspace is classified and the type of service connected with each aerodrome is determined. This means the aerodrome's status does not concern only ground infrastructure: it determines which space and which service operate above it — and knowledge of the regulations is therefore necessary for pilots as well.
A civil aviation aerodrome and heliport are subject to certification; the procedure and conditions of certification are determined by an order of the director of the Agency. A state aviation aerodrome and heliport used for civil purposes are certified under the same procedure. The register of certified aerodromes, heliports and registered flying sites is kept by the Agency; the registration and recording of state aviation aerodromes is carried out by the Ministry of Defence, and the rules for both spheres are approved by the respective bodies. The mixed-regime rule also deserves note: a state aviation aerodrome used for civil purposes is certified under the civil procedure — at the intersection of the two spheres the law makes the civil safety standard a precondition.
The Protection Zone and Movement Rules
The concept of the protection zone is two-sided: on the one hand, it secures for the aerodrome the environment needed for flight safety — by restricting the height of buildings and the operation of objects; on the other, it affects the rights of surrounding landowners, which is why the law provides for notice to the municipality. The balance of these two interests lies precisely in the procedure that runs together with the certification.
The protection zone of a civil aviation aerodrome and heliport is established by the Agency in the respective certification process, with notice to the appropriate municipality; that of state aviation — by the Ministry of Defence. Within the protection zone, the height of buildings and the operational peculiarities of other objects are determined by flight safety. The rules of movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the territory of a civil aerodrome are approved by a normative act of the Agency, and any person moving on that territory must observe the movement rules established by the operator — this rule turns the airport territory into a special space: the general norms of road movement yield here to special regulations, and a breach is framed not merely administratively but as a matter of safety.
To summarize: the system of airport regulations unfolds on five levels. First, classification: civil or state aviation, international status by decision of the Government. Second, certification: for civil aerodromes by order of the Agency's director. Third, registration: the register of certified objects is with the Agency, the state one with the Ministry of Defence. Fourth, the protection zone: established by the Agency in the certification process, with notice to the municipality. Fifth, movement on the territory: the Agency's rules and the regulations established by the operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked on this topic.
Who confers international status?
The Government of Georgia.
Who determines the certification procedure?
An order of the director of the Agency — for civil aviation.
Who keeps the register?
The Agency — for certified objects and flying sites; the state ones — the Ministry of Defence.
Who establishes the protection zone?
The Agency — in the certification process, with the involvement of the municipality.
The first rule of classification is departmental subordination: aerodromes and heliports divide into those of civil and of state aviation. The status of an international airport or heliport is granted by the Government of Georgia. The rules and conditions of certification are determined by an order of the director of the agency, and a state-aviation aerodrome used for civil purposes is subject to certification under those same rules.
Who grants the status of an international airport?
The Government of Georgia; the rules of certification are established by an order of the agency’s director.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Airport regulations are arranged on several levels — classification, certification, registration, the protection zone and movement rules — and at each level a different body is responsible. On Legal.ge you can consult an aviation-law lawyer who will determine the rules applicable to your case and protect your interests in aerodrome-related relations. Submit a request on the site, describing the issue — certification, the protection zone or movement — and get qualified assistance.