Extention of the validity of third-country licenses in non-commercial operations
Negotiations between the Union and certain third countries are currently still ongoing, including on the conversion of pilot licences and associated medical certificates. In order to ensure that Member States may continue to recognise third country licences and medical certificates for an interim period in light of those negotiations, it is necessary to prolong the period during which Member States may decide not to apply the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 in their territory to pilots holding a licence and associated medical certificate issued by a third country involved in the non-commercial operation of certain aircraft.
In Article 12 of 2018/1974, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:
‘4.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may decide not to apply the provisions of this Regulation until 20 June 2020, to pilots holding a licence and associated medical certificate issued by a third country involved in the non-commercial operation of aircraft as specified in Article 2(1)(b), points (i) or (ii), of Regulation (EU)2018/1139. Member States shall make those decisions publicly available.’;
This provision does not require action from pilots, but on the contrary it introduces extended transition period for third country licenses for non-commercial operations allowed by this amendment.
It allows Member States to extend until 20 June 2020 transitional period of the Aircraft Regulation 1178/2011 to pilots holding a non-EU license and medical certificate for non-commercial operations on aircraft operated by EU Member States or by an EU-based operator.
In Finland, the principle has been to make full use of the transitional periods allowed by EU aviation regulations. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has amended the previous provision of the same name for 2018 to extend transition period until 20 June 2020.
More information at TrafiCom and contact persons:
Ms. Leila Iikkanen, tel. +358 29 5346 039, leila.iikkanen(at)traficom.fi
Mr. Jarno Keskivinkka, tel. +358 29 5347 084, jarno.keskivinkka(at)traficom.fi
