Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has approved unified aviation rules governing the airworthiness of civil aircraft.
The document sets out how aeroplanes, helicopters and unmanned aircraft obtain authorisation to fly, what happens when an aircraft is damaged and the requirements for companies providing aircraft maintenance services.
The order signed by Tahir Nazarov, director of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Transport, was registered by the Ministry of Justice on 14 October. It will enter into force three months after its official publication.
The key document for any civil aircraft remains its certificate of airworthiness. The Uzaviation Agency will issue the certificate when sufficient evidence confirms that the aircraft complies with established standards.
A standard certificate may be issued for a period of no more than one calendar year. It must be carried on board during every flight, and operating an aircraft without a valid certificate is prohibited. For aeroplanes operating international flights, the certificate must be written in English.
The certificate must include the aircraft’s registration marks, type and model, serial number, manufacturer, maximum take-off mass and category of operation — passenger, transport or special-purpose.
In addition to the standard document, the agency may issue a special certificate specifying conditions and restrictions for flights over the territory of other countries.
The rules pay particular attention to unmanned aircraft operated from a remote pilot station. Their certificate confirms the airworthiness of the entire system, rather than the aircraft alone.
The document must specify the type and model of the control station, the command-and-control (C2) link, and the technical condition of communication channels and associated equipment.
If an unmanned aircraft loses its airworthiness, it must be restored for the entire system, including the control station and communication links.
The rules simplify the import of aviation equipment that has already been certified abroad. The agency will recognise certificates of airworthiness issued by states that are parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, provided the aircraft meets Uzbekistan’s requirements.
In such cases, a certificate of recognition will be issued. Its validity period may not exceed that of the foreign document. If an aircraft is entered into Uzbekistan’s register with a valid foreign export certificate, that document will be accepted as sufficient grounds for issuing a national certificate.
When an aircraft is sold or transferred abroad, Uzaviation will issue an export certificate. It does not authorise flights but confirms that the latest airworthiness inspection was completed successfully.
The document also establishes procedures for dealing with damaged aircraft. Uzaviation will determine whether an aircraft can continue flying.
If an aircraft registered abroad is damaged in Uzbekistan, the agency may detain it and must immediately notify the state of registration, providing information about the nature and extent of the damage. The aircraft may be permitted to make a non-commercial flight to an aerodrome where repairs can be carried out, subject to restrictions proposed by the state of registration.
A substantial part of the rules governs information exchange between countries where an aircraft is designed, manufactured and registered. At the request of Uzbekistan’s agency, the designer must provide mandatory information on maintaining airworthiness, including airworthiness directives and requirements for modifications, component replacement and inspections.
For aeroplanes weighing more than 5,700 kg and helicopters weighing more than 3,175 kg, the designer must maintain a system for collecting data on defects. For large aeroplanes, it must also have a structural integrity programme that includes measures to prevent corrosion.
If information supplied by an engine or propeller designer conflicts with data provided by the aircraft designer, the latter will take precedence.
As the state of registration, Uzbekistan will notify the designer when an aircraft of a new type is first entered into the national register, monitor the continued airworthiness of every aircraft throughout its service life and forward information about identified defects to the organisations responsible for its design.
Confidential aviation safety information will be transmitted separately and only through secure communication channels.
The rules impose strict requirements on maintenance organisations. To obtain a certificate, they must have suitable facilities, warehouses, equipment, tools, technical documentation and qualified personnel.
Each organisation must appoint an accountable manager with ultimate responsibility for its operations, establish an independent quality control or internal audit system, and develop an operations manual.
Organisations must notify the agency of changes to their scope of work, address or key personnel within one working day.
Staff at these organisations must undergo initial and recurrent training, including instruction on interaction with flight crews and human factors.
Records of completed work must be retained for two years and may be maintained in paper or electronic form.
Once maintenance is completed, the organisation must issue a release certificate specifying the work performed, its completion date, the organisation’s name and the individuals who signed the document.
An organisation’s certificate will be renewed if it continues to meet the applicable requirements, including those relating to safety management.
