UAE: 'Golden Package' announced for pilots, business jet owners and aviation firms

The UAE on Wednesday launched the 'Golden Package' for pilots, private aircraft owners and business aviation service providers in the country.

Under the new initiatives announced by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), there is no age limit to register aircraft, subject to compliance with regulatory standards.

Additionally, the package includes Registration Code Personalisation, providing aircraft owners with the option to select a registration code from an available list, allowing them to tailor their aircraft registration adding a bespoke touch to their fleet.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Furthermore, the GCAA’s new laws permit the hiring of independent flight crews, freelancers, or part-time professionals so that private operators can adapt to evolving needs while maintaining high standards of compliance and efficiency.

In addition, it introduced a ‘one-stop shop’ solution for quick ownership and registration processes of assets, as well as seamless transfers between UAE entities, ensuring operational continuity.

The ‘Golden Package' also eliminates the requirement for pilots’ exams during validation and enables the transfer of foreign licenses within just three days. Additionally, the adoption of local licenses removes the need for operators to travel abroad for license verification, further enhancing efficiency.

A key highlight of the latest initiative is that aircraft owners can independently manage and operate their aircraft without reliance on an operator, significantly reducing registration costs for private aircraft and offering owners enhanced flexibility and diverse operational options.

Moreover, the ‘Golden Package' also include granting 100 per cent ownership rights for airline operators or aircraft owners, eliminating the need for local partnerships, and the option to operate under a commercial license from a UAE free zone, as well as allowing operators to commence activities with just one aircraft, a significant shift from the previous requirement of a minimum of two aircraft.

Eng. Aqeel Al Zarouni, assistant director-general for aviation safety affairs at the UAE’s GCAA, said the package includes the review and development of over 24 services related to the operations and registration of private aircraft, reducing the time to issue an air operator certificate (AOC) from two years to a maximum of 60 to 90 days.

Al Zarooni announced the establishment of the Business Aviation Advisory Council under the GCAA to address challenges, streamline processes, and promote the growth of general aviation within the UAE.

• Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport named world's most beautiful airport