The Essence of Certification and Its Coverage
In civil aviation, certification is the fundamental guarantee of the safety of aircraft. The law subjects to certification the operator of an aircraft carrying out commercial air transportation, as well as the maintenance organisation, the aerodrome and the heliport, the air navigation service provider (except search and rescue), the civil aviation training institution, the aviation medical centre and the aviation medical expert, the aircraft fuel and lubricant service enterprise and its technical personnel, aviation personnel, the in-flight catering enterprise, the corresponding ground and aviation equipment, those legal and natural persons whose activity is directly connected with flight safety and aviation security, and the aircraft and its engine. The certificate issued confirms compliance with the requirements of flight safety and aviation security, which is why its absence blocks lawful operation of the activity.
The rules of certification are established, and certification itself is carried out, by the agency in accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, its annexes and Georgian legislation. The certificate is therefore not merely an internal administrative document: it is aligned with international standards and its validity is also assessed in relations with foreign partners, from leasing arrangements to cross-border operations.
State Registration and the Airworthiness Certificate
Every airworthy aircraft is subject to mandatory state registration with the issue of an appropriate certificate. A civil aircraft is registered in the state registry of civil aircraft or in the registry of ultralight aircraft, and only aircraft holding an airworthiness certificate are entered in the state registry. State aircraft are registered in a separate registry maintained under rules established by the Ministry of Defence. Experimental aircraft are not registered in the state registry — they are recorded with the organisations where test-design or scientific-research flights are carried out. An aircraft built by non-industrial means with a mass of not more than 1 000 kilograms (other than an ultralight) must be registered with the appropriate aviation sports organisation, which gives amateur-built aircraft a defined route of their own.
Documents That Must Be on Board
A civil aircraft is not admitted to flight unless the following documents are on board: the state registration certificate; the airworthiness certificate; a licence to use the on-board radio station if the aircraft is equipped with radio apparatus; the logbook; a certificate for each crew member; when passengers are carried, a list of their surnames indicating the points of departure and destination; and when cargo is carried, a manifest and an exhaustive declaration concerning the cargo. The agency is empowered to develop and issue additional lists and forms of documents according to the purpose and aims of the flight, while for aircraft of a construction weighing not more than 1000 kilograms it may allow exceptions from the above list. For state and experimental aircraft, the documents are determined by the normative acts of their owners.
Suspension, Annulment and Violations
The agency is entitled to inspect and, taking into account state interests and the requirements of flight safety and aviation security, to suspend the validity of a certificate, to amend or annul it, or to restrict the rights it confers; such a decision may be challenged by the holder in accordance with Georgian legislation. The law also enumerates what counts as a violation of the requirements set by a certificate: working without an appropriate certificate; using a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate or in breach of its conditions; allowing uncertified aviation personnel to service, operate or conduct commercial activity; carrying out transportation without the appropriate certificate or in breach of its conditions; using an aircraft for commercial purposes in violation of the certificate requirements or other norms; non-observance of any condition or restriction of the certificate by the holder; operating a servicing airport without a certificate or in breach of its norms; selling or offering aviation fuel whose quality does not meet the standards established in Georgia; and providing incorrect information to the agency in order to obtain a certificate. Knowing this list is the starting point of compliance management.
Frequently Asked Questions on Airworthiness Certification
May an aircraft fly without an airworthiness certificate?
No. A civil aircraft is not admitted to flight without an airworthiness certificate, and entry in the state registry is likewise reserved for aircraft holding one. Even a breach of the conditions of the certificate is treated as a violation.
Which documents must be kept on board?
The registration certificate, the airworthiness certificate, a radio licence where the aircraft is equipped accordingly, the logbook, crew certificates, the list of passengers or the cargo manifest and declaration. The agency may also prescribe additional documents.
What relaxations exist for light aircraft?
An aircraft built by non-industrial means with a mass of not more than 1 000 kilograms is registered with an aviation sports organisation, and for constructions of a similar mass the agency may allow exceptions from the list of on-board documents.
How are certificate disputes resolved?
A decision of the agency to suspend, amend, annul a certificate or restrict the rights it confers may be challenged in accordance with Georgian legislation, and success in the dispute often depends on documentary preparedness built up in advance.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Airworthiness certification demands technical and legal precision at the same time. The Legal.ge team will help you plan the certification route: we will determine the certificates corresponding to your activity, compile the list of documents, assess the registration regime and represent you in dealings with the agency, including the challenging of its decisions. Contact us — your aviation project will be built on a correct certification foundation.