An aircraft operator involved in commercial air transport must be the holder of a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by the Irish Aviation Authority and a valid Air Carrier Operating Licence (ACOL) issued by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.
The issue of an AOC and ACOL authorises an operator to conduct commercial air transport operations in accordance with such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed for that aircraft operator.
To obtain an AOC and ACOL an operator must complete a thorough process to satisfy the authorities that they are competent to secure the safe operation of aircraft. They are subject to rigorous oversight by the Irish Aviation Authority and are audited regularly for competence and adequacy of resources in areas such as management and organisational structure, crew training, aircraft maintenance, flight planning and support, including many other areas.