Specific Category Operations

As per EASA regulations, operations in the Specific Category require an Operational Authorisation from the National Aviation Authority / Competent Authority of the state of registration, unless the operation is conducted in accordance with a Standard Scenario or hold an LUC with the appropriate privileges.

• If the operation is covered by STS, the Operator may simply submit a declaration to the Competent Authority.
• If the operation is not covered by STS but may follow a PDRA, the Operator should submit the Form for Operational Authorisation, together with an Operations Manual and a table of the desired PDRA.
• If the operation is not covered by STS or PDRA, the Operator should submit the Form for Operational Authorisation together with the corresponding SORA (using SORA2.5) and compliance evidence, as well as the Operations Manual.

All operations to be conducted in the Specific Category need to be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks in advance if the Operator’s Operations Manual has already been approved, and a minimum of 12 weeks in advance if the Operations Manual requires approval.

For the Operations Manual, TM-CAD strongly advises using the Operations Manual Template for SAIL II operations which will facilitate and expedite the respective manual review. TM-CAD will only process SORAs submitted using SORA2.5.

For operations in the Specific Category conducted outside the State of Registration, Cross-border Operational procedures apply, whereby Operators registered in another EASA Member State need to provide TM-CAD with an Application for a cross-border operation the respective valid Operational Authorisation, as well as the specific local conditions. Such applications need to be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks in advance. Once authorised, the NAA will provide the operator with a Form of Acceptability of the Cross-border operation, and the Operator may then conduct the required operation(s).

Operators having an LUC with the privilege to self-authorise operations must provide the NAA of the State of the intended operation with a copy of the terms of approval of the LUC, and the location of the intended operation.

All operations in the Specific Category must be submitted via Centrik. For the first operation, the Operator needs to request a username and password from TM-CAD to enable application submission.

When the respective application is processed and authorised, the operator is still required to submit the respective flight plan on tmcad.idronect.com, quoting the Operational Authorisation number and attaching a copy of the respective authorisation in the ‘Comments’ Tab.

It should be noted that all operations may be subject to inspection by TM-CAD Inspectors, and enforcement action may be taken by either Inspectors or enforcement officers should the operation not be conducted in line with the respective Operational Authorisation.