The Republic of San Marino has been a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation in the world since 1988. Establishes standards and regulations necessary for the safety, security, efficiency and regularity of aviation, as well as for the environmental protection of aviation.
In addition, the Republic of San Marino is also a member of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). The European Civil Aviation Conference seeks to harmonise civil aviation policies and practises among its Member States and, at the same time, promote understanding on political issues between its Member States and other parts of the world. ECAC’s mission is to promote the continued development of a safe, efficient and sustainable European air transport system.
Primary aviation legislation established the Civil Aviation Authority as an autonomous body responsible for all technical matters related to civil aviation, in particular the promulgation of regulations in its area of competence.
The Civil Aviation Authority and its aircraft registration service has been developed and structured to become an attractive jurisdiction offering the following advantages to aircraft owners and operators:
- High levels of security
- ICAO Compliance
- Quick service
- Value for money
- Flexibility
- Personal customer service
- Innovation thanks to cutting-edge technology
Aviation Registry Group under an exclusive service level and best practice agreement supports the San Marino Civil Aviation Authority with capital investments, marketing, Civil Aviation Authority staff training, expert advice and ICAO regulatory support.
Aviation Registry Group activities include:
- Aeronautical legislation
- Rule and definition of policies
- Aircraft airworthiness inspections and recommend the issuance of aircraft registration certificates
- Aircraft registration management
- Validation of flight crew and aircraft maintenance licenses
- Inspections of aircraft maintenance organisations
- Review airspace manuals and approvals
- Quality assurance
- Security and risk management reviews
- Development and implementation of an aircraft registration management system (ARMS)
The ICAO agreement defines the division of regulatory oversight responsibilities between San Marino, as the State of registration, and a foreign civil aviation authority, as the Operator’s State, in relation to the operations of aircraft registered in San Marino.
This means that aircraft registered in San Marino can be used for commercial purposes by a foreign air operator certificate (COA) holder.
The Civil Aviation Authority provides a secure service for all aspects related to the ownership and tax management of aircraft. The registration procedure itself is efficient and fast: once the technical checks required for the aircraft have been carried out and any necessary action, including the examination of documents, the entire registration process with T7 marks can be carried out in 1-3 working days.
San Marino offers a simplified and innovative legal framework for the registration of aircraft, which ensures transparency in the ownership and operation of aircraft by foreign nationals or companies from another state. In order to be able to register an aircraft, a citizen or a company of another State must elect domicile with a representative residing in San Marino using the SM 27 form. The representative will act as a domicile, with the sole responsibility of transmitting to the owner any communication from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The Republic of San Marino is a signatory to the Cape Town Convention and is therefore able to offer strong protection to holders of international interests, guaranteeing low-risk operations and facilitating recovery, thus avoiding the high costs normally associated with such operations.
The registration of an aircraft in the San Marino Aeronautical Register allows the financier to enjoy the protection of the Convention on his cell/engines.
San Marino has submitted all “declarations of suitability” pursuant to the OECD Aircraft Agreement and the Cape Town Convention, in order to establish a competitive legal framework.
Aircraft registered in San Marino are exempt from payment of the single phase.
The aviation industry benefits from efficient and convenient services for parked aircraft awaiting a new commercial location at a new air operator.
Approval certificates
The Civil Aviation Authority accepts the approval certificates and related technical data sheet (TCDS) issued by the American (FAA), Canadian (Transport Canada), European (EASA) and Brazilian (ANAC) Authorities. In practice, the Civil Aviation Authority accepts an aircraft from any of the national aviation agencies mentioned above without the aircraft having to undergo any modification.
Maintenance organisations
Organisations for the maintenance of aircraft registered in San Marino that are already certified by EASA, FAA, Transport Canada, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong are accepted without any formality.
Pilotage licenses
Flight licenses issued by any country are accepted and validated by the Civil Aviation Authority as long as they comply with the ICAO standard.
