The Flight Operations Section conducts oversight of air operators through assessments of general flight operations, including operations manuals and quality systems, as well as the financial standing of air operators. All licences for flight operations are subject to the Section’s approval and control. The Flight Operations Section oversees commercial and private aviation. Assesssments of ferry flights are carried out, as well as technical assessments of Icelandic and foreign aircraft. Furthermore, Operations Inspectors monitor specific flights and verify whether they are conducted in accordance with current rules.

Most notable in 2008 is that air operators and the Flight Operations Section are adapting to so-called EU-OPS entering into force and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) receiving authority in air operator issues.

The Flight Operations Section is responsible for:
• Overseeing private aviation.
• Overseeing commercial aviation of Icelandic parties, procedural rules of air operators, flight crew members, as well as the financial standing of air operators.
• The issuing of air operator licences being in accordance with council regulation 1008/2008 and regulation no. 1263/2008 on air transport flights with subsequent amendments.
• Issuing air operator certificates which attest that the air operator is in control of flight safety aspects in its operations. All licences for flight operations are subject to the Flight Operations Section’s approval and control. The Operations Section furthermore oversees flights of foreign parties to and from the country as needed, and issues permits to fly through Icelandic airspace. Systematic assessments of air operators’ management of flight operations are carried out, inspectors go on flights to monitor whether they are conducted in accordance with current rules, monitor the use of flight simulators, as well as air operators’ activities in Iceland and abroad, as appropriate. In cooperation with the Training and Licencing Section, the Flight Operations Section oversees flight schools as regards financial basis.
• The Flight Operations Section examines complaints and comments from passengers, air operators, foreign civil aviation authorities, and anybody else who submits such information concerning aviation safety. The air operator or others concerned are contacted to obtain explanations and the appropriate response is then decided on.

Páll S. Pálsson, Head of Flight Operations Section
Direct line: +354 569 4322
Fax: +354 562 3619
E-mail: palls@caa.is

The Head of the Flight Operations Section is Páll S. Pálsson. Páll completed an Airline Transport Pilot Licence in 1995 and worked as a pilot on ATR42 and Boeing 737 until 2003. Páll has wide-ranging knowledge of aviation and flight operations and worked, for example, in the flight operations department of Íslandsflug before starting work at the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration in 2005.