This section applies for the purposes of this Chapter.

An aircraft is not a chargeable aircraft whenever its operation falls within an exemption set out in sub-paragraph (b), (c), (f) or (g) under the category of activity “Aviation” in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 (as amended by Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008).

Those exemptions are to be read in accordance with paragraphs 2.2 to 2.5 of the Annex to Commission Decision 2009/450/EC of 8 June 2009.

An aircraft is not a chargeable aircraft whenever it is being operated under a public service obligation imposed under Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 (common rules for the operation of air services).