Test Flights

For test flights of foreign aircraft falling under a special category of airworthiness, or of foreign ultralight aircraft, conducted within the airspace of the Czech Republic, a Flight Test Approval must be obtained in addition to any authorization for entry into Czech airspace, as required under Section 15 of Act No. 49/1997 Coll., as amended.

For the purposes of this provision, test flights refer to flights conducted for the following purposes:

1. development flight tests of prototypes, experimental or individually built aircraft;

2. certification flight tests, i.e. flights intended to demonstrate compliance with applicable regulations for prototypes, experimental or individually built aircraft;

3. crew training for design or production organizations;

4. production flight tests of newly manufactured aircraft;

5. flights of aircraft between production facilities during manufacture;

6. flights for the purpose of approval by the competent authority;

7. flights conducted to identify and rectify malfunctions or to verify the function of one or more systems, aircraft components, or equipment after maintenance or the performance (installation) of significant design changes.

The Flight Test Approval is a separate document issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified in Directive CAA-TI-010-n/99 titled “Directive for Test Flights of Civil Aircraft.”

For aircraft under the oversight of EASA, approved Flight Conditions (EASA Form 18A or 18B) together with the Permit to Fly (EASA Form 20A or 20B) are considered equivalent to the Consent for the Performance of a Test Flight pursuant to Section 15 of Act No. 49/1997 Coll., as amended. This applies only if the Permit to Fly has been issued — in accordance with Annex I (Part 21) to Commission Regulation (EU) No. 748/2012, as amended — for purposes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, or 16 as defined in point 21.A.701(a), and the approved Flight Conditions include and demonstrate compliance with all requirements applicable to the Consent for the Performance of a Test Flight.

In such cases, copies of both forms must be submitted to the CAA no later than three (3) working days prior to the intended entry into Czech airspace.

Note: Purposes 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 as listed in point 21.A.701(a) are not considered test flights.

Applications for the Consent must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the planned activity, using the application form available in the aforementioned Directive.
Further information and the application form