The Air Navigation Order 2000

Issue of aerial application certificates

58—(1) An aircraft shall not be used for the dropping of articles for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry or for training for the dropping of articles for any of such purposes, otherwise than under and in accordance with the terms of an aerial application certificate granted to the operator of the aircraft under paragraph (2).

(2) (a) The CAA shall grant an aerial application certificate if it is satisfied that that the applicant is a fit person to hold the certificate and is competent, having regard in particular to his previous conduct and experience, his equipment, organisation, staffing and other arrangements, to secure the safe operation of the aircraft specified in the certificate on flights for the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

(b) The certificate may be granted subject to such conditions as the CAA thinks fit including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, conditions for ensuring that the aircraft and any article dropped from it do not endanger persons or property in the aircraft or elsewhere, and shall, subject to article 81 of this Order, remain in force for the period specified in the certificate.

(3) Every applicant for and holder of an aerial application certificate shall make available to the CAA upon application and to every member of his operating staff upon the certificate being granted, an aerial application manual which shall contain all such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable the operating staff to perform their duties as such. The holder of a certificate shall make such amendments of or additions to the manual as the CAA may require.

(4) For the purposes of this article ‘operating staff’ has the meaning ascribed to it in article 31(4) of this Order.