France Aviation Permits
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Civil Aviation Authority
- Name: DGAC (Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile)
- Website: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/aviation-civile
- Contact: Charter permits: DGAC DTA, 50 rue Henry Farman, 75720 Paris Cedex 15 | dta-compagnies-bf@aviation-civile.gouv.fr | +33 1 58 09 43 21 | AIP: https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
Estimated Processing Time
Requirements by Operation Type
Private flights generally exempt. PPR at busy airports (CDG, ORY).
Non-EU non-scheduled flights require DGAC France permit, 5 business days. EU carriers exempt.
EU/EEA carriers: free access under Single European Sky. Non-EU: bilateral agreements apply.
Overflight Permit
- Required: No
- Authority: DGAC / DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aerienne)
- Lead Time: N/A
- Validity: N/A
- Fees: Eurocontrol en-route charges. No CAA processing fees for overflight permits. Terminal charges apply at major airports.
No overflight permit required for EU or non-EU aircraft with an ICAO Certificate of Airworthiness or an EASA Permit to Fly. Aircraft with non-ICAO or restricted certificates need validation from DGAC (fee: EUR 100 for MTOW > 5.7t, EUR 50 for MTOW <= 5.7t).
1. File ICAO flight plan via Eurocontrol IFPS 2. No overflight permit application needed for ICAO/EASA-compliant aircraft 3. Eurocontrol en-route charges billed automatically via CRCO 4. For non-ICAO/restricted airworthiness certificates: apply to DGAC for validation (form DGAC LP3 available at https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/en/public-policies/foreign-aircraft) 5. Validation fee: EUR 100 (MTOW > 5.7t) or EUR 50 (MTOW <= 5.7t)
Landing Permit
- Required: Conditional
- Authority: DGAC DTA (Direction du Transport Aerien)
- Lead Time: 2 business days (non-EU charter, standard). 10 business days for EU-registered charter with 5th/7th freedom rights. First-time operators should allow extra time.
- Validity: +/- 72 hours from scheduled time. Changes require re-confirmation (typically 24h during weekdays 0900-1600 LT).
- Fees: No CAA permit processing fees. Airport-specific landing, parking, and handling fees vary. Eurocontrol terminal charges at major airports.
EU-registered aircraft: no permit for intra-EU flights. EU-registered charter <20 seats OR MTOW <10t OR revenue <EUR 3M: no charter permit needed. Non-EU charter operators: permit required with passenger manifest — all passengers must be listed; any manifest change requires formal permit revision before departure. Compliance is rigorously checked at Nice (LFMN) and Paris Le Bourget (LFPB). EASA TCO authorization required for all non-EU commercial operators landing in France.
1. EU CARRIERS (intra-EU flights): no permit needed, file flight plan 2. EU CHARTER (<20 seats or MTOW <10t or revenue <EUR 3M): no charter permit 3. NON-EU CHARTER/COMMERCIAL: a) Submit application to DGAC DTA via email: dta-compagnies-bf@aviation-civile.gouv.fr b) Allow minimum 2 business days (standard); 10 business days for 5th/7th freedom c) Required documents: AOC with operations specifications, insurance certificate (EU Reg 785/2004), Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness, Noise Certificate, EASA TCO authorization, complete passenger manifest d) Permits valid +/- 72 hours; changes require re-confirmation 4. PRIVATE NON-REVENUE: no permit needed for ICAO-compliant aircraft 5. LE BOURGET (LFPB) SPECIFICS: - Slot coordination via COHOR (https://www.cohor.org) - PPR may apply during peak periods and events - 24/7 arrivals; jet departures from apron prohibited 2215-0600 LT - Stage 2 aircraft banned 2330-0615 LT - Handling agents must process slot requests for private flights 6. COORDINATED AIRPORTS: CDG, Orly, Nice, Lyon, Marseille — slots via COHOR 7. NIGHT CURFEWS: Orly closed 2330-0600 LT. CDG has night quota restrictions.
Cabotage
No — strictly enforced for non-EU operators. EU-registered operators can conduct domestic flights freely under EU Reg 1008/2008. Non-EU operators cannot carry passengers between two French domestic points commercially.
General Remarks
Le Bourget (LFPB) is Europe's busiest business aviation airport — slot coordination through COHOR. In France, only authorized handling agents can process slot requests for private flights. EASA TCO mandatory for non-EU commercial operators. Strict passenger manifest enforcement at Nice and Le Bourget. Night restrictions at most major airports.