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UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



This page offers guidance to appropriately approved organisations and independent certifying staff when issuing Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) for UK registered Part 21 aircraft.

How do I apply?



Use your allocated password to log on to ARC online.
If you do not have access to ARC Online, please use CAA Form 15B and Form 15C.

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How much does it cost?



The fee for issuing an Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) depends on several factors, including whether the aircraft is being operated on an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), and the aircraft maximum take-off mass. The fee will automatically be calculated by the ARC Online system.

The Official Record Series 5, CAA Scheme of Charges (Airworthiness, Noise Certification and Aircraft and Aircraft Engine Emissions) provides further details.

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What do I need to send with my application?



Following issue of the Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC), you are required to send a signed copy to apply@caa.co.uk within 10 days of issue.

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What else do I need to know?



Who can issue an ARC 15b?

Your organisation must hold a Part-CAMO, or Part-CAO approval with Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) privilege on the aircraft type (for issue and extension).

Please refer to the information below for when to Issue an ARC 15b.

Commercial Air Transport Aircraft

All Aircraft

Aircraft must be in a controlled environment.

Non-Commercial Air Transport Aircraft

Aircraft above 2730 Kg MTOW

Aircraft must be in a controlled environment.

Non-Commercial Air Transport Aircraft

Aircraft of 2730 Kg MTOW and below which are not covered by Part-ML

No requirement for the aircraft to be in a controlled environment in order to issue the ARC.

Who can issue an ARC 15c?

Your organisation must hold a Part-CAMO, Part-CAO or Part 145 approval with the privilege to carry out airworthiness reviews on aircraft to which Part-ML applies.

Independent certifying staff that hold an approval issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to carry our airworthiness reviews on aircraft to which Part-ML applies.

Please refer to the information below for when to issue an ARC 15c.

Non-Commercial Air Transport

Part-ML aircraft

  • No requirement for the aircraft to be in a controlled environment in order to issue the ARC.
  • When the airworthiness review is carried out by a maintenance organisation or independent certifying staff, it must be carried out at the same time as the annual inspection.
  • The airworthiness review must be carried out by the same person that released the aircraft to service.
  • The same person that carried out the airworthiness review must also carry out a review of the maintenance programme.

The authorisation number on the Form 15b or 15c
is the company authorisation number issued to the individual airworthiness review staff or the CAA authorisation number issued to the independent certifying staff, as applicable.

What is a Controlled Environment?

An aircraft in a controlled environment is an aircraft which, during the preceding 12 months has had its airworthiness continuously managed by a unique CAMO or CAO; and, all maintenance carried out on the aircraft must have been performed by a suitably approved maintenance organisation or the pilot / owner as appropriate, in accordance with Part M.

UK Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 and the associated Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material provides further information on the requirements applicable to the issue and extension of ARCs.

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How long will it take for my application to be processed?



If the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) was issued using the ARC Online system, the G-INFO database will be updated automatically within 24 hours.

If the ARC was issued without using the ARC Online system, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will update the G-INFO database within 5 working days of receiving the signed ARC.

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How long is it valid for?



An Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) is normally valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

However, if the current ARC has not expired, provided it was issued within 90 days of the current ARC expiry date, the new expiry date will be 12 months from the previous expiry date and not the date of issue.

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