The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has revised its guidelines for Third Country Operators (TCO) that apply to commercial flights conducted by non-European-registered aircraft operators into, within, and out of any European Union member state, including unscheduled business aircraft charters.

Private flights continue to be exempted, and operators are not required to obtain TCO authorization for overflying EU countries without an intention to land, reported AIN Online.

The updated revisions, which apply to TCO authorization applications submitted after mid-April, focus on three main areas: 

• Technical requirements and administrative procedures. 
• Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material. 
• TCO authorization procedures.

EASA emphasized that these updates aim to improve the comprehension of the existing rules, and they are not intended to alter them fundamentally.

EASA Third-Country Regulations

EASA stated that aside from "cleaning, clarifying, and removing inconsistencies, and improving coherence," the revisions are aimed at promoting a risk-based approach that will aid the agency in developing an enhanced level of trust in the handling, evaluation, compliance, and suspension of authorizations given to third-country operators.

Under the "new or amended text" heading, EASA clarified when a TCO authorization is required other than for flights to "embark or disembark passengers or cargo for remuneration."

Operations do not require TCO authorization in emergencies or other situations that force an unplanned landing or a diversion to a flight-planned designated alternate airport.

There are also provisions to allow for one-off or short-notice unscheduled flights by commercial air transport operators without TCO authorization.