Aerocivil is the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics (Spanish: Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil), is a government agency of the Colombian Ministry of Transport. It is in charge of regulating civil aviation, the aviation industry, and managing the Colombian airspace; deals with civil aviation and general aviation as a whole, excluding military aviation which falls under the Colombian Air Force branch of the Colombian Military.

The agency also operates two agencies of its own, the Corporation of the Colombian Aeronautic Industry SA or CIAC, which is in charge of construction, repair and maintenance of planes and jets, and the Centre for Aeronautic Studies or CEA, which creates programs for training and education in the field of aeronautics. The aviation sector in Colombia has grown significantly in airport infrastructure and air cargo terminals. Colombia has 590 airports and airfields of which 74 are owned by Aerocivil (Government), 14 by departments, 94 by municipalities, 9 military, 185 fumigation, and 214 private airfields. 13 are certificated as international airports, located in Bogotá, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Leticia, Medellín, Pereira, Riohacha, Santa Marta y San Andrés Isla. Only five of these considerably move passengers and cargo abroad.

The most influential in the economy is the Bogota Airport - El Dorado, move the 50% of the passengers and the 70% of the cargo followed by Cali and Medellin.

Aeronautica civil concessioner 17 of the 74 air terminals operated by the government, the main objective for this issue is looking for increase the commercial use of the terminals, modernize, expand and improve administration.

The focal challenge for this sector is the investment in technology, improve the assistance for the passengers, and progress in equipment for handling cargo.

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links:  4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.

Contact: 

Hugo Moreno Cano

Head of the Aeronautical Registry Office (E) 

General Management 

Email: hugo.moreno@aerocivil.gov.co 

Tel: (571) 425 1000 - (571) 594 8600 

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

Each flight to, from or on and landings in Colombian territory will be subject to Colombian official regulations related to civil aviation. Aircraft arriving or leaving Colombian territory must make their first landing or final departure from an international airport.

Regular Flights

Scheduled international flights operated by, or in transit through, foreign airlines to Colombia must meet the following requirements:

1. A) When there is a treatment or agreement with the flag of nationality it holds, the designation, the operating permit and other administrative matters will be governed mainly by the provisions established in the treatment or a valid agreement and then in Colombian laws and regulations.
2. B) When there is no treatment or agreement with the flag state, the operating permit will be granted or not, taking into account the national interest, public safety, the economic interests of air transport and the conclusion of international agreements, treatments or pacts signed by the Colombian government and simply provided by the principle of real and effective reciprocity.
3. C) The application for an operating permit to establish international public transport that there is a treatment or agreement, or not with the state of the flag, must be submitted to the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics.

The aircraft of the contracting states of the agreement on International Civil Aviation signed in Chicago in 1944, on regular international flights without traffic rights in the country, can fly over and scale in Colombian territory for non-commercial purposes, for which they must process the plan of respective flight. Any stopover must take place at an international airport. It does not require prior permission from the Colombian aviation authority.

The arrival, operation and permanence of foreign aircraft in commercial air services, scheduled or not, as well as state aircraft will be subject to prior authorization in valid bilateral and multilateral agreements on the specific subject or condition of reciprocity. When said flights involve commercial traffic rights, the corresponding authorization will be granted by the Air Transport Office.

Documentation requirements for aircraft approval

 In the case of aircraft registered abroad operated by Colombian commercial public air transport operators, they must obtain the required authorization from the Aviation Registry Office to operate the aircraft registered abroad in Colombia, before registering the certificate or contract in accordance to which it is acquired as operator in the same and the fulfillment of the demanded requirements. This authorization will be carried on the aircraft with the other documents on board.

To obtain permission for the arrival and departure of their aircraft to and from Colombia, airline operators must present the aircraft documents listed below. All the documents listed must comply with the ICAO standard format established in the relevant appendices that correspond to ICAO appendix 9 and are acceptable when they are in Spanish, and must be completed legibly. The visa is not required in terms of such documents. Required aircraft documents (arrival / departure):

• Immigration Police: Passenger Manifesto.
• Customs: General Declaration, Passenger Manifest and Cargo Manifest (When cargo is transshipped at the same airport, four (4) copies are required).
• All Colombian or foreign aircraft at the time of arrival or departure from the country, must be presented to the Customs and Immigration authorities.

Note:

Customs endorses and returns a copy of the general declaration, authorizing the release.

If the passenger is not embarked or disembarked and if the cargo is loaded or unloaded, it is not necessary to present the aircraft documents to the authorities mentioned above, with the exception of the General Declaration.

Unscheduled Flights

Procedures

 If an aircraft operator intends to launch a flight (or a series of non-scheduled flights) to Colombia to board or disembark passengers, cargo or mail, it must request it from the Air Navigation Services Directorate of the administrative unit. .

Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics for permission to carry out such operations no less than 24 hours before the planned landing. The request must contain the following information in the order shown below:

• Name of the operator.
• Aircraft types and registration marks.
• The dates and times of arrival (International Airport) and departures thereof.
• The place or places of embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and / or cargo abroad, as the case may be.
• The purpose of the trip and the number of passengers and / or the nature and amount of the charge.
• The name, address and line of business of the charterer, if applicable.

Unscheduled flights without commercial rights

The aircraft of the contracting states of the Convention on International Civil Aviation signed in Chicago in 1944 can fly over Colombian territory and make stops for non-commercial purposes (technical scale) for which they must organize a flight plan in a timely manner. Any stopover must take place at an international airport. It does not require prior permission from the Colombian aviation authority.

• Documentation requirements for aircraft authorization
• The same requirements as scheduled flights.

Private Flights

Overflight, entry and exit of foreign private aircraft: private aircraft registered in any of the contracting states of the Convention on Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago in 1944, can fly over and enter Colombian territory, for which they must timely process the flight plan. All arrivals and departures must take place at an international airport. It does not require prior permission from the Colombian aviation authority. The following flight categories do not need permission either:

• Any flight for humanitarian or urgent need.
• Sporadic aero taxis from abroad.

Aircraft that require prior authorization

Aircraft from abroad require prior authorization to fly over the territory and make stops. The respective requests must be submitted to Aerocivil, with adequate notice. Regarding the flights and landings of foreign state airplanes, it is regulated by Decree 1692 of October 15, 1992. When the foreign operator planned to carry out a frequent series of charter flights, must obtain a prior operating permit, to do so. which must submit an application containing:

• Name of the company and legal representative, address and domicile.
• Permission granted by the flag country for flight references.
• Equipment with respect to its identification and ownership.
• Insurance

Surety or civil liability insurance in charge of the aircraft operator

Aircraft operators must guarantee the civil liability referred to in Article 1900 of the Commercial Code, in an amount sufficient to cover the compensation amounts corresponding to the liability limits established therein, or in the international agreements in force for Colombia on the matter, according to is applicable; which must remain in force as an indispensable requirement for the operation, according

1. A) Colombian companies operating commercial public transport air services, must guarantee with respect to each aircraft they operate, civil liability for damage to third parties on the surface, for boarding and for damage (death or injury of passengers, loss or damage of goods ) derived from the air transport contract, in accordance with the provisions of Chapters VI, VII and XII of Part Two of the Fifth Book of the Commercial Code. Colombian international public transport companies must also provide guarantees for the same concepts, up to the limits of liability indicated by the international agreements to which Colombia is a party and with respect to international operations. The operators of commercial aircraft referred to in this literal, must provide the National Aeronautical Registry Office, the insurance certificate, or document that proves the constitution of the surety, at the time of requesting registration of the act or contract by virtue of which they access such an exploiter.
2. B) Foreign companies that operate to and from Colombia, must establish a bond for an amount not less than the limits established in the International Agreements in force for Colombia on the matter; or failing that, to the provisions of the Commercial Code, to protect civil liability for damages to third parties on the surface, for boarding and for damages (death or injury of passengers, loss or damage of goods) derived from the transport contract aerial. The document that certifies the constitution and validity of this bond, will be provided to the Air Transport Office among the necessary requirements for the initiation of operations.
3. C) The other civil aircraft that fly over Colombian territory, whether national or foreign, must guarantee liability for damage to third parties on the surface and by boarding, up to the limits indicated in the Commercial Code. If such aircraft were registered in Colombia, or if, having foreign registration, they receive authorization to stay in the country for more than fifteen (15) days and up to six (6) months, their operators must submit to the National Aeronautical Registry Office, the certificate of insurance, or document that proves the constitution of the surety at the time of requesting registration of the act or contract by virtue of which they access such status of operator or requesting the authorization of permanence. In the case of aircraft with foreign registration, authorized to remain in the country, the corresponding bond must also be provided (see Colombian Aeronautical Regulations, RAC) to guarantee compliance with the obligations derived from the permanence authorization. Foreign general aviation aircraft that have to stay in the country for up to fifteen (15) days, will send the Directorate of Services to Air Navigation, with the request for entry and stay, a copy of the corresponding insurance certificate, which also must stay on board

Stay of foreign aircraft in Colombia

Aircraft registered abroad, operated by general aviation (non-commercial) for Colombians or foreigners who enter Colombian territory, in accordance with articles 5 and 24 of the Chicago Agreement of 1944 that refers to international civil aviation, paragraph 3.6 .3.5.1.1. From the Aeronautical Regulations of Colombia, it will be admitted temporarily and without special authorization, up to a term of forty-eight (48) hours, only if they enter and leave through the same airport without operating other Colombian airports.

Authorization for non-commercial aircraft

In accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, general aviation or non-commercial aircraft require a special permit to arrive and stay in Colombian territory, in the following cases:

• When they must stay more than forty-eight (48) hours in Colombian territory.
• When they are on flights that do not belong to the airport of arrival in Colombia.

The corresponding authorization will be granted by the Directorate of Air Navigation Services, who is delegated in the fact, for which the operator must submit a request to that office with no less than forty-eight (48) hours in advance through a AFS message, fax, mail or email.

The application must include:

• Identification of the aircraft by its nationality and registration marks.
• Make, model and serial number of the aircraft and its engines and propellers.
• Name of the requesting operator, including its telephone number and AFS address, email or postal code, where the response is sent.
• Names of the crew in charge, along with their number of licenses issued or validated by the State of registration of aircraft.
• Number of occupants who do not belong to the crew entering and leaving the country on the aircraft.
• Airport (s) of entry and exit to and from Colombia (to be international airports) and deadlines for this purpose.
• Approximate dates and times scheduled for entry and exit.
• Place or places (city and airport) where the aircraft will remain or operate.
• Place (address and telephone number) where you can find the crew in Colombia.
• Reason for the stay. If the reason is to perform demonstration flights, they must know the names or be interested in the demonstration. In the case of repair or maintenance, indicate the name of the workshop, the type of work and its approximate duration.

To the application it must be attached

• Copies of the air force registration and airworthiness certificates.
• Copies of current crew licenses, issued or validated by the competent authority of the State of the aircraft registry, indicated above.
• Copies of insurance policies that protect the operator's liability in relation to public liability and the collision surface that the aircraft could cause in Colombia.

When the arrival of foreign aircraft is intended to carry out repairs or maintenance, or if during its stay it is necessary to perform services other than traffic, such work must be carried out in workshops approved by the UAEAC Special Administrative Unit for Civil Aeronautics and certified for the type and / or aircraft service. in question and must have the due authorization of the aeronautical authority of the State of the registry of aircraft. Likewise, the Office of Aviation Safety and Control must give its approval before the execution of the works and give its consent when they are going to carry out test flights.

Titles, acts and documents subject to registration

They must register in the National Aeronautical Registry:

A.- Articles of ownership of aircraft.

B.- Transferring acts of ownership over aircraft.

C.- Acts that encumber or limit, in general, control over aircraft.

D.- Acts or contracts that deal with aircraft, celebrated abroad and that have effects in Colombia.

E.- Seizures and other precautionary measures decreed on a civil aircraft.

F.- Aircraft under construction for the purpose of establishing taxes on them.

G.- Acts that constitute, transfer or terminate the status of operator over aircraft of an aircraft.

H.- Aircraft contracts.

Titles, acts and documents granted abroad.

The acts and contracts on aircraft validly celebrated in a foreign country must be submitted in original or authenticated photocopy and officially translated into Spanish (Castilian) if they were written in another language so that they can be registered in the National Aeronautical Registry and have effect in the Country. ; Said acts or contracts granted abroad will be recorded in the respective document and will be covered by the formalities required according to the laws of the State in which they were granted. Such documents will also be authenticated by the consul or diplomatic agent of the Republic of Colombia and, failing that, by that of a friendly nation, which makes it presume that they were granted in accordance with the laws of the respective country. The signature of the consul or diplomatic agent will be paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia and if it is a consular agent of a friendly country, it will be previously authenticated by the competent official of the same and that of the latter by the Colombian Consul, in compliance with the ordered in article 480 of the Commercial Code.

Short-term stay approval

The authorization of the preceding paragraphs will be granted for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days. If the term is shorter than originally granted, the extension may be allowed to complete.

If the aircraft had entered without special authorization for a period of less than 48 hours and it was required to extend its stay, they can request permission for an additional time not to exceed 15 days. In this case, the request must contain the information and evidence provided in the previous paragraph. If the extension was not obtained, the aircraft will not be allowed any flight that does not correspond to its departure.

If the initial fifteen days have expired, you can request an extension up to an additional 15 days. In all cases, the stay of the plane in Colombia for more than 30 days.

If the aircraft were to carry out consecutive inbound and outbound flights, it would be indicated in the initial application, in which case, its total stay in Colombia may not exceed fifteen days in the respective month.

However, if the established deadline expires, demonstrating technical difficulties related to the maintenance, repair or operation of the aircraft, or weather conditions or other circumstances that strictly prevent its departure, a special extension may be requested to remain in the country, until these difficulties are overcome, not to exceed thirty (30) days.

In this case, the aircraft will be suspended from any flight while it is in Colombia and only the test flight will be authorized (in the case of repair or maintenance) or whatever corresponds to the final departure from the country. Similarly, when the reason for the entry and stay of the aircraft is to carry out maintenance or repair tasks, this stay will be authorized only for the time required for the work, and the aircraft will not allow any operation other than conducting test flights or flight for departure In any case, once after the period of stay and / or authorized extension, the aircraft must leave the country and must not be allowed to return within ninety (90) days. However, if the aircraft does not leave the country within the specified period, no operation other than that of the departure flight will be allowed and that fact will be reported to the customs authorities, within their competence, without affecting the sanctions that may be required, by the aviation authority.

Special authorization to stay long term

If it does not affect what is mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics + UAEAC may authorize the retention of aircraft registered abroad, used in corporate or executive aircraft for periods of up to six (6) months, extendable, only when the operator was a national or foreign legal entity that certifies permanent business in Colombia and abroad, to deserve frequent entry and exit of the aircraft to and from Colombian territory or to stay for long periods. The request for proper authorization must also contain the requirements and schedules established in the previous section, the activities that require the development of corporate and executive activities, provided in sections 3.6.4.2. Colombian Aeronautical Regulations and the following:

• Description of the company's permanent business in Colombia and abroad.
• Type of operations carried out in Colombia (company equipment or personnel transport, etc.).
• Colombian airports where operations with the aircraft were mainly expected.
• Certificate of existence and legal representation of the company, if it is a Colombian subsidiary in Colombia if it is foreign.
• Guarantee (real, bank or insurance company) in an amount equal to 10% of the market value of the aircraft, in effect for the time the aircraft spends in the country to guarantee compliance with the authorization obligations and its departure after the expiration of the permit term or its extension.

The corresponding deed or lease that the person acquires the position of operator of the aircraft must be registered in the National Aeronautical Registry in accordance with Article 1798 of the Commercial Code, with compliance with all applicable requirements in accordance with the Law and this Regulation .

The crew must request and obtain approval for their commercial pilot licenses issued by the country of registration of the aircraft, for which the provisions of paragraph

1. a) If they were foreigners or have a Colombian commercial pilot license if they were Colombian.

The Aviation Registry Office will issue the corresponding authorization for the operation of the aircraft in corporate or executive aviation activities in Colombia. This document will remain on the aircraft, along with other documents on board.

Conditions of authorization

Without prejudice to the prior authorization or approval that will be granted to foreign aircraft, the Air Transport Office (which practices traffic rights), the Aviation Registry Office (to Colombian operators to operate foreign aircraft) The Security Office and Aviation Control (to repair, maintenance or test flights), the Air Navigation Services Directorate will grant authorization for arrival and departure flights to and from the country, and the flight test or demonstration in all cases . Aircraft should not begin their arrival flight until they have expressly granted said permission.

The Air Navigation Services Directorate informs the Aviation Security and Control Office about each foreign aircraft authorized to stay in the country for more than forty-eight (48) hours.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, UAEAC reserves the right to inspect aircraft registered abroad that are located in Colombia, and to inspect the certificates and other documents thereof, as prescribed in the Agreement, without prejudice to the jurisdiction of other assisting authorities.

In accordance with Section 11 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, once the arrival and / or stay of any foreign aircraft in Colombia has been authorized, the aspects related to the entry or exit, or its operation and navigation, will be subject to the Laws and Colombian Aeronautical Regulations, particularly paragraphs 4.10.11.1. And 4.23.1. A 4.23.21.1. of these regulations.

Public health measures applied to the aircraft

 When aircraft enter Colombian territory, public health measurements are not normally implemented, and vaccination certificates will only be required when the health authority deems it necessary.

When the aircraft come from places that have been declared epidemic, if the health authority considers it necessary, disinfection will be applied immediately after the arrival of the aircraft. In general, sanitary inspections must be carried out with respect to the cargo carried by the aircraft when it contains food, biological or pharmacological products.

International civil aviation signed in Chicago 1944: http://www.icao.int/publications/Pages/doc7300.aspx

Updated documentation according to the type of aircraft: http://www.aerocivil.gov.co/TServicios/EAeronauticas/Paginas/Inicio.aspx