Operators and personnel involved in the operation of certain aircraft have to comply with the relevant essential requirements set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 the Commission should adopt the necessary implementing rules for establishing the conditions for the safe operation of aircraft. Those rules should primarily take into account the complexity of aircraft, organisations and aircraft operations, as well as the risks associated with the different types of operations.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/20122 establishes implementing rules for commercial air transport operations with aeroplanes and helicopters. Rules for commercial air transport operations with balloons and sailplanes should also be provided in order to comply with the basic principles and applicability of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008. In addition, the specificities of certain commercial operations with aeroplanes and helicopters, starting and ending at the same aerodrome or operating site, need to be appropriately addressed according to their scale and scope and the risk involved.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 800/20133 amends Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 to include rules for non-commercial operations according to the complexity of aircraft. It is also necessary to amend Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 in order to reflect the current state of the art and to ensure proportionate measures for certain strictly defined activities with other-than-complex aircraft and the organizations involved.

Rules for specialised operations with aeroplanes, helicopters balloons and sailplanes should also be included taking into account the particular aspects of such operations and the risk involved. For reasons of proportionality it would not be appropriate to subject all commercial operators to certification, in particular commercial specialised operators. Although of commercial nature, these operators would be subject to a declaration of capability instead of a certificate. Nevertheless, conditions for certain high risk commercial specialised operations, which endanger third parties on the ground, should be specified in the interest of safety and therefore those operations should be submitted to authorisation.

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.

In order to ensure a smooth transition and a high level of civil aviation safety in the Union, the implementing measures should reflect the state of the art, including best practices, and scientific and technical progress in the field of air operations. Accordingly, technical requirements and administrative procedures agreed under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Joint Aviation Authorities until 30 June 2009, as well as existing legislation pertaining to a specific national environment, should be considered.

It is necessary to provide sufficient time for the aeronautical industry and Member States’ administrations to adapt to the new regulatory framework.

The European Aviation Safety Agency prepared draft implementing rules and submitted them as an Opinion to the Commission in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 65 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008,