Legal basis and coverage
- The memorandum circular sets guidelines and procedures for the issuance of airworthiness certificates and related permits/releases for aircraft maintenance and repair leading to return to service.
- The memorandum circular requires compliance with civil air regulations for operation of civil aircraft.
- Any person operating a civil aircraft in violation of civil air regulations is subject to the penalties embodied in Republic Act 776.
Defined terms
- Airworthiness means that an aircraft, its engines, propellers, and components and accessories are of proper design and construction and are safe for air navigation purposes, with design and construction consistent with accepted engineering practice and in accordance with aerodynamic laws and aircraft science.
- Aircraft means any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation of, or flight in the air.
- Appliances means instruments, equipment, apparatus, parts, appurtenances, or accessories of whatever description used, capable of being used, or intended to be used in the navigation, operation, or control of aircraft in flight, including parachutes and communication equipment and any other mechanism installed in or attached to aircraft during flight, and which are not part of aircraft, aircraft engines, or propellers.
- Aircraft Engine means an engine used or intended to be used for propulsion of aircraft and includes all parts, appurtenances, and accessories other than propellers.
- Airmen means individuals who, as person in command or pilot, mechanic, flight radio operator, or crew member, engage in navigation of aircraft while underway; individuals directly in charge of inspection, maintenance, overhauling, or repair of aircraft, aircraft engine, propellers, or appliances; and individuals serving as aircraft dispatcher or air-traffic control operator.
- Civil Aircraft means any aircraft other than a public aircraft.
Core airworthiness requirements
- A Certificate of Aircraft Registration is a pre-requisite to securing an Airworthiness Certificate.
- An Airworthiness Certificate is valid for one year.
- A Provisional Aircraft Permit (PAP) is issued only to applicants who have scheduled flight for the same day and to those operating outside of Metro Manila.
- A PAP is valid only for one (1) month, and issuance of a PAP valid only for thirty (30) days is given only to applicants who have scheduled flights for the same day and those operating outside Metro Manila.
- An ATO Aircraft Inspector must be required to board the aircraft during scheduled test flight to evaluate performance of the aircraft, its engine, other components, and accessories.
- Test flight must be carried out locally on Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and must be conducted by a rated Pilot.
- A test flight is conducted only when all requirements in applying for an Airworthiness Certificate have been complied with.
- All outstanding accounts (operational charges) must be settled first before an application for Airworthiness Certification can be processed.
Penalties for unlawful operation
- Operating a civil aircraft in violation of civil air regulations subjects the operator to the penalties prescribed for such act embodied in Republic Act 776.
Original/annual certification process
- For original/annual airworthiness certification, the applicant/owner must submit a request for inspection and secure an application form for Airworthiness Certificate from the Registration Clerk of the Aviation Safety Division.
- The Registration Clerk issues the Application Form (ATO-Form No. 1029) with the Annual Inspection Report (ATO-Form No. 1030) and Radio, Electronics and Instrument Inspection Report (ATO-Form No. 013E) to the applicant.
- The applicant/owner must fill up and submit the notarized ATO-Form No. 1029 with supporting documents to the Registration Clerk.
- Supporting documents required with the accomplished forms include:
- Work Done Report certified by a licensed Aircraft Mechanic
- Instrument and Equipment List of the Aircraft
- Current Aircraft Radio License or application from the National Telecommunications Commission
- Weight and Balance Report (every two (2) years for air carrier aircraft) or after major repair
- The Registration Clerk forwards the request and supporting documents to the Section Chief concerned for assignment of an Aircraft Inspector, and the Section Chief assigns the Aircraft Inspector.
- The Aircraft Inspector reviews and evaluates the application and supporting documents and the applicant/owner schedules the aircraft for physical inspection.
- The Aircraft Inspector conducts the physical inspection and makes a recommendation for a test flight.
- The Registration Clerk prepares the Test Flight Permit (TFP) (ATO-Form No. 1042) and forwards it to the assigned Aircraft Inspector.
- The Aircraft Inspector recommends approval of the TFP and forwards it to the Chief, Airworthiness Section for initial action; the Chief, Aviation Safety Division approves the TFP.
- After TFP approval, the Aircraft Inspector issues the TFP to the applicant/owner, and the applicant/owner coordinates the test flight schedule with the Aircraft Inspector.
- During the test flight, the Aircraft Inspector, pilot, and mechanic evaluate flight performance; the Aircraft Inspector records observations/findings on the Test Flight Report applicable to the type of aircraft.
- After the test flight:
- If aircraft performance is satisfactory, the Pilot/Aircraft Mechanic signs the Aircraft Test Flight Report and the Aircraft Inspector approves it.
- If aircraft performance is not satisfactory, re-inspection and a re-test flight are conducted after correction of discrepancies; a re-test flight is not required if minor discrepancies can be observed/corrected during ground test.
- The applicant/owner pays Inspection and Airworthiness fees (P150.00) and presents the Official Receipt (OR) to the Registration Clerk.
- The Registration Clerk prepares the Airworthiness Certificate (AC) (ATO-Form No. 1064) or Provisional Aircraft Permit (PAP) (ATO-Form No. 1044) and forwards it to the Chief, Airworthiness Section for initial.
- For Standard Airworthiness Certificate, the Chief, Aviation Safety Division initials the Airworthiness Certificate and forwards it to the Assistant Secretary for Air Transportation for signature.
- For Provisional Aircraft Permit, the Chief, Airworthiness Section initials under the name of the Chief, Aviation Safety Division, and documents are forwarded to the Chief, Aviation Safety Division.
- The Chief, Aviation Safety Division signs the permit, and the Registration Clerk issues the Airworthiness Certificate or Provisional Aircraft Permit to the applicant/owner.
- The process uses only VFR local test flights conducted by a rated Pilot, consistent with TFP approval.
Continuing airworthiness after repair
- After completion of repair works for continuing airworthiness, the applicant/owner submits a written request for inspection to the Aviation Safety Division through the Registration Clerk.
- The Registration Clerk issues the Engine and/or Propeller Change Report (ATO Form No. 1087) as applicable.
- The applicant/owner submits the accomplished Engine/Propeller/Rotor Blades Change Report Form with required attachments, which include the following categories of documents:
- Work Done Report certified by a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
- Replacement documentation for New engine/propeller/rotor blades including:
- Importation papers
- Custom clearance
- Export Certificate of Airworthiness
- Airworthiness tag
- Replacement documentation for Overhauled engine/propeller/rotor blades including:
- Origin
- Overhaul papers including the agency that performed overhaul work
- Export Certificate of Airworthiness or Airworthiness Approval or Serviceable Tag
- Transferred engine/propeller documentation specifying from what aircraft the engine/propeller was removed, with:
- If repaired in the Philippines: Certification from an ATO-Rated Repair Station that the engine/propeller has been repaired
- If repaired in a foreign country: Work Done Report; Signed-Off/Release Aircraft Logbook; Official Receipt; Airworthiness tag
- The Registration Clerk forwards the request and supporting documents to the Section Chief for assignment of an Aircraft Inspector, who reviews and evaluates the application and supporting documents.
- The applicant/owner schedules the aircraft for physical inspection; the Aircraft Inspector conducts physical inspection and recommends a test flight.
- The Registration Clerk prepares the Test Flight Permit (TFP) (ATO-Form No. 1042) and forwards it for approval through the same chain: Aircraft Inspector recommendation to Chief, Airworthiness Section for initial, then Chief, Aviation Safety Division approval, followed by TFP issuance to the applicant/owner.
- The applicant/owner schedules the test flight, and the Aircraft Inspector evaluates flight performance with the Pilot and Mechanic; the Aircraft Inspector records observations/findings on the Aircraft Test Flight Report applicable to the type of aircraft.
- After the test flight, if performance is satisfactory, the Pilot signs the Aircraft Test Flight Report and the ATO Aircraft Inspector approves it.
- If inspection is satisfactory, the Registration Clerk prepares the Aircraft Release (ATO Form No. 304); if not satisfactory, re-inspection is required after correction of discrepancies, and a re-test flight is not required if minor discrepancies can be observed/corrected during ground test.
- The applicant/owner pays an Inspection Fee (P50.00) and presents an Official Receipt to the Registration Clerk.
- The Registration Clerk forwards the Aircraft Release to the Chief, Airworthiness Section for initial, after which the Chief, Aviation Safety Division signs the Aircraft Release.
- The Registration Clerk issues the Aircraft Release to the applicant/owner, signifying the aircraft is returned back to service.
Returning aircraft to service: major overhaul
- For major aircraft overhaul, the applicant/o