Certifications & Licensing

Air Operator Certification authorises commercial air transport operations. AACL supports first applications and renewals with complete regulatory documentation.

An AOC application is one of the most document-intensive processes an operator will undertake. UCAA certifies operators in five phases — pre-application, formal application, document evaluation, demonstration and inspection, and certification — under the Civil Aviation (Air Operator Certification and Administration) Regulations, 2022. Our AOC certification guide explains each phase. We work with your team from gap analysis through to submission, so what reaches the authority is coherent and complete.

Whether you are launching a charter operation, expanding into scheduled service, or renewing an existing certificate, contact AACL to discuss your pathway.

Approved Maintenance Organisation certification allows an entity to perform maintenance on aircraft and components under regulatory oversight. AACL assists with manual preparation, personnel qualification records, and the evidence pack UCAA expects at audit.

Maintenance organisations face increasing scrutiny on traceability, tooling, and continuing airworthiness documentation. We help AMO applicants and holders align their systems before the inspector arrives — reducing delays and repeat findings.

An Approved Training Organisation delivers pilot, engineer, or other aviation training under regulatory approval. AACL guides institutions through organisational setup, curriculum documentation, instructor qualifications, and the submission process with UCAA.

Training standards evolve with advisory circulars and international benchmarks. We help ATOs review programmes proactively — not only at initial approval but when requirements change.

Licensing pathways differ by role — commercial pilots, remote pilots operating UAVs, and balloon pilots each carry distinct medical, training, and examination requirements. AACL navigates these processes with applicants and employers, ensuring documentation is complete before submission to UCAA.

For operators building a crew or drone programme, we can help align licensing with training arrangements at approved training organisations. New to the process? Start with how to become a pilot in Uganda.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licensing certifies individuals to release aircraft and components after maintenance. The path involves training, experience logs, examinations, and sometimes type endorsements — each with specific evidence requirements.

We help engineers and their employers prepare applications that withstand regulatory review, and we coordinate with training providers where additional qualifications are needed.

Air Traffic Controller licensing requires demonstrated competency, medical fitness, and structured training records. AACL supports controllers and aviation employers through the licensing process with UCAA, ensuring applications reflect current operational experience and qualifications.

Our founding team includes air traffic control professionals who understand both the regulatory framework and the operational realities of working in Ugandan and regional airspace.

Establishing or restructuring a civil aviation authority requires legal frameworks, organisational design, and alignment with international standards. AACL provides guidance on CAA legal and organisational setup — drawing on ICAO guidance and regional best practice.

This work typically involves defining directorates, delegations of authority, and the regulatory instruments that underpin safety oversight.

A State Safety Oversight System ensures that aviation activities under a state’s jurisdiction meet safety standards through inspection, audit, and enforcement. AACL supports governments and institutions establishing or strengthening SSOS frameworks — including safety data collection, analysis, and follow-up processes.

Effective oversight depends on clear procedures, trained personnel, and systems that connect occurrence reporting to corrective action.

Registering or transferring aircraft ownership involves legal documentation, proof of title, and compliance with UCAA requirements. AACL guides owners, lessors, and operators through ownership arrangements — ensuring the paperwork matches the operational reality before an aircraft enters or changes hands on the register.

We coordinate with legal advisers where needed and align ownership documentation with wider AOC or AMO applications when both are in progress.

Leasing and charter arrangements carry specific regulatory conditions — from dry lease approvals to crew and maintenance responsibilities under charter contracts. AACL helps operators and lessors understand UCAA expectations and prepare the documentation that supports compliant operations.

Whether you are importing an aircraft on lease or structuring a charter agreement, early regulatory clarity avoids costly rework later.

Aircraft must be registered before operation and deregistered when exported, scrapped, or transferred to another registry. AACL manages the documentation chain for registration and deregistration — working with owners, operators, and UCAA to keep the process moving without gaps in airworthiness or insurance coverage.

For operators also pursuing AOC certification, we align registration timelines with the wider approval schedule.