Flight Permissions
Notification and Approval of Flights in Maltese Airspace
The Duty Management Office (DMO) at the Civil Aviation Directorate (CAD) is responsible for the processing and granting overflight/landing clearances to operators requiring permission to overfly Malta’s territorial airspace or operate to/from Malta International Airport.
Community Air Carriers/Operators
As provided under Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community, Community air carriers/operators are entitled to exercise, without a need for approval, traffic rights on routes within the Community. Prior notification is however required.
With respect to flights outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Community air carriers/operators require prior approval / operating permit.
The EEA is made up of the EU along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008
Non-Community air carriers/operators
Flights operated by non-Community air carriers/operators require prior approval / operting permit.
Traffic Rights
Before granting an operating permit for the operations of flights to/from Malta, the CAD ensures that the services are undertaken in accordance with the traffic rights and conditions provided under the air services agreement / air tranport agreements that Malta / the European Union has negotiated with the countries concerned.
You can view a list of air services agreements here
All Flights – Commercial/Private
Approval/notification for the operation of all flights requiring landing in Malta shall be made to the DMO on the contacts below and should include the information and documentation hereunder. Requests or notifications are also, in some cases, accepted from third party flight support agencies or handling agents acting on behalf of the operator.
• Operator name, address and contact numbers
• Flight number
• Aircraft type and registration
• Origin and destination
• Nature of flight
• Arrival/departure date and time
• Name of charterer/charterers (if applicable)
• Type of cargo, consigner and consignee details (if applicable)
• Declaration of any Dangerous Cargo (if applicable)
• Code-share agreements (if applicable).
Non-Community air carriers/operators should also include valid copies of the following documents:
• Certificate of Airworthiness
• Insurance Certificate as established by Regulation (EC) No 785/2004*
• Air Operator Certificate (if applicable)
• Wet/Dry lease agreements (if applicable)
• ACC3 designation (if applicable)
Additional documents may also be requested.*As from 30th April 2005, Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 on insurance requirements for air carriers and aircraft operators came into force. This Regulation was subsequently amended on 6th April 2010 by means of Regulation (EU) No 285/2010. The Regulation, as amended, specifies the minimum levels of insurance required by aircraft operators and air carriers in respect of third party cover, passenger cover and cover for risks of war and terrorism.
Regulation (EC) No 785/2004
Regulation (EU) No 285/2010
All aircraft operating to Malta should be certified to comply with the conditions included in ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 3 or Stage 3 noise standard.
Foreign registered aircraft holding a non-Standard Airworthiness Certificate or a Permit to Fly need to apply for landing clearance not less than seventy two (72) hours before the planned flight.
Microlights - defined by paragraph (e) of ANNEX I to Regulation (EU) No 2018/1139 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA Basic Regulation).
Permits to fly issued under foreign National Regulations have to be validated in accordance with the EASA Basic Regulation and other relevant national rules. To facilitate pilots flying a foreign microlight aircraft in Malta, the CAD may issue permission to fly an aircraft in Malta subject to the aircraft meeting the following criteria:
• The aircraft is registered in another State;
• It has a valid Permit to Fly or equivalent document from its State of registry;
• It has defined flight conditions accepted by the State of registry (usually Stated on the Permit to Fly);
• It has a serviceable Mode C transponder installed; and
• It has adequate insurance cover.
The aircraft may be flown for private use only and may not be flown over any congested area of a city, town or settlement, or an assembly of persons in the open air, unless for the purposes of take-off and landing. In addition, aircraft may not be flown at a minimum height less than 150 metres (500 ft) from any person, vehicle, vessel or structure, or at a height less than 150 metres (500 ft) above the ground or water. It shall only be flown during daylight hours. The normal duration of the permission will be of not more than one month. The CAD reserves the right to refuse or revoke permission for a microlight aircraft even if the aircraft satisfies the criteria outlined above. This may arise in situations where the CAD has received evidence that the aircraft has been utilised in contradiction to the applicable legislation, or where an application or a certificate for the aircraft issued by the CAD has been rejected, suspended or revoked.
Exemptions
In exceptional circumstances, the CAD may exempt a microlight pilot or operator from complying with any of the above conditions, and in doing so may impose any other additional conditions as may be deemed fit.
Applications for permission to land in and/or take-off from Malta or to overfly Maltese territories are to be received by the DMO at least fifteen (15) working days in advance of the flight.
Military and State Flights (Operations as per Article 2.3 of the EASA Basic Regulation (EU) No 2018/1139)
State aircraft referred to as aircraft owned or operated by a State include:
• Aircraft used for military, customs and police (in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1079/2012 and ICAO Article 3b of the Chicago Convention).
• Aircraft carrying Heads of State, Heads of Government and those afforded VIP status by the Government of Malta
• Aircraft conducting activities on behalf of the UN
State aircraft overflying Malta’s territorial airspace or landing at Malta International Airport are subject to clearance from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion. Unless a blanket clearance has already been issued, operators should file their request through diplomatic channels. Aircraft engaged in training or other operations covered with a blanket clearance should inform the DMO accordingly about any planned operations.
Urgent requests for medical evacuation, humanitarian or any other flights, which due to the nature of the emergency are required at very short notice, may also make contact with the DMO for guidance and coordination.
Overflights
Civil aircraft registered in a State which has not adhered to the Chicago Convention or aircraft with a non-standard Airworthiness Certificate require permission to overfly Malta’s territorial airspace. A request for permission to carry out such flights shall be submitted to the DMO by not later than seventy two (72) hours before the intended flight. All other flights require a notification by flight plan.
Aircraft from the EU/EASA member states with a valid EASA Form 20a Permit to Fly do not require overflight permits.
Procedure for requesting the use of STS/ATFMEXEMPTAPPROVED
A flight plan originator seeking approval to insert STS/ATFMEXEMPTAPPROVED for a flight departing Malta shall obtain prior permission at least two hours in advance of the EOBT from the DMO. For further details please contact the DMO.
DMO Contacts (operational 24X7)
Email: dutyofficer.cad@transport.gov.mt
Tel: (+356) 7924 5205 / (+356) 2555 5653
Last updated: 14/10/2019
