The exercice of the profession of an air carrier in cameroon isregulated by decree N° 2003/2031/PM of 04 th September 2003

An air carrier's title permits an enterprise to carry out commercial air transport in conformity with the Cameroon civil aviation law. To acquire the title, an enterprise must obtain two major documents from the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA): an Air Operating Licence which authorizes the enterprise to carry out against payment, air transportation of passengers, mail and/or freight as indicated on the licence; and an Air Operator's Certificate which certifies that the enterprise has the professional capacity and organization necessary to operate aircraft safely for the air transport activities mentioned therein.

An enterprise wishing to carry out commercial Air Transport has to forward a request to this effect to the General Manager of the CCAA specifying the kind of air transport activity (regular, non regular flights) it intends to engage in. The enterprise will have to make available the following documents required to obtain an Air Operating Licence: a registered status of the enterprise; a business plan including description of planned operation, list of aircraft, economic study of routes the company intends to operate; disposition taken with regards to offices, acquisition or lease and maintenance of aircraft, financial resources, insurance policy; organigramme specifying the names and qualifications of the managers responsible for operations, maintenance, training and operations on the ground; provisional Balance sheet and operation accounts for the first two years; provision for expenses on fuel, tariffs, salaries, maintenance, airport charges, insurance and training; projections on traffic and revenue for the first two years; and financial guarantee to cover cost of operations for at least three months.

Upon reception of the application, the general manager sets up a commission with the departments directly concerned, usually the departments of air transport and regulation, and air security. A preliminary examination of the documents is carried out by the commission and if approved, the enterprise is invited to give a detailed presentation of the project. If the commission is convinced based on the documents submitted and the presentation that the project is viable, a recommendation is made to the general manager for the status of the enterprise to be forwarded to the General Delegation for National Security (DGSN) for administrative investigation on the share holders.

Should the outcome of this investigation be favourable, an organisational evaluation is carried out by the CCAA at the main offices of the enterprise before the issuance of an Air Operating Licence. After obtaining a licence, the enterprise will have to prepare the following manuals which will enable the CCAA to evaluate its technical capaciry: operations, maintenance and quality assurance.

The manuals are reviewed by the commission and if accepted, a conformity visit is carried out at the opera-tor's main base to verify if the procedures in the manuals submitted are respected. A final review of documents is carried out and if the enterprise fulfils all the conditions required by the civil aviation law, a recommendation is made to the general manager to issue an air operator's certificate which together with the air operating licence, gives the enterprise an air carrier's title in Cameroon. An enterprise with the said title has up to six months to go operational, otherwise it will be revoked. The technical and financial capacity of the enterprise is evaluated permanently by the CCAA who has the right to suspend or withdraw the title, if it fails to meet the provisions of the civil aviation law.