GEN 1.2 ENTRY, TRANSIT AND DEPARTURE OF AIRCRAFT

1 General

1.1 Entry, transit, departure and landing of civil aircraft shall be subject to the current Estonian rules and regulations regarding civil aviation.
1.2 Estonia is party to The International Air Services Transit Agreement.
1.3 Estonia is a Member State of European Union (EU).
1.4 Estonia applies the Schengen provisions.
1.5 Definitions:
  1. Member States/Contracting Parties to Schengen Agreements: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein;
  2. Schengen area: The area consisting of the territories of Contracting Parties to the Schengen Agreement;
  3. Internal borders: Airports for internal flights within the territories of the Contracting Parties;
  4. External borders: Airports of the Contracting Parties, provided that they are not internal borders;
  5. Internal flight: Any flight exclusively to or from the territories of the Contracting Parties and not landing in the territory of a third state;
  6. EU Member States, i.e the EU customs territory: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria;
  7. State outside the EU Community: Any state other than the EU Member States.
1.6 Arrival to and Departure from Estonia
1.6.1 First Landing in and Final Departure from Estonian Territory
1.6.1.1 The first landing in and final departure from Estonian territory shall be carried out at an aerodrome with customs, unless an exception to this rule has been granted in advance by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board and Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Aerodrome
Customs OPR HR
* FPL is accepted
KärdlaH24 - 1 HR PN*
KuressaareH24 - 1 HR PN*
PärnuH24 - 1 HR PN*
Lennart Meri TallinnH24
TartuH24 - 1 HR PN*
1.6.1.2 The entry and departure shall take place within the operational hours of appropriate ATS unit. The operational hours are published in AIP AD section and/or via NOTAM messages.
1.6.1.3 An entry summary declaration must be lodged to entry customs office for goods brought into the customs territory of the Community directly from the third countries, with the exception of Norway and Switzerland and an exit summary declaration must be lodged to exit customs office for goods carried directly out of the customs territory of the Community if they are not encompassed by the customs declaration.

Additional information: www.emta.ee > Customs > New Information Systems Introduced Since 01 JUL 2009 (ICS, ECS, NCTS).

1.6.2 Flights Within the Schengen Area

Aircraft on internal flight (see definition 5) may use any aerodrome for their first landing or final departure, unless EU customs regulations dictate otherwise.

For each internal flight, during which the aircraft enters the Estonian airspace or departs from it, a flight plan shall be submitted by the aircraft operator. An accepted flight plan may not be changed during flight so that the aircraft would leave the Schengen area.

Note: Norway and Iceland are not EU member states, and therefore a permission from the customs district is required when using a non-international aerodromes for arrival from or departure.

1.6.3 Flights Within the EU Customs Territory

Aircraft flying directly from one EU Member State to another without a stop outside the EU customs territory or tax area, may use any aerodrome for their first landing or final departure, unless the provisions of Schengen Agreements dictate otherwise.

Changing the flight plan during a flight, so that the aircraft would land outside the EU customs territory or tax area, is not allowed.

1.6.4  Aircraft Entry Requirements for Third Country Operators (TCO)

1.6.4.1 Third Country Operators (TCO) engaging in scheduled or non-scheduled commercial air transport operations into, within or out of a territory subject to the provisions of the Treaty of the European Union, must hold a safety authorisation issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 452/2014. This includes operators which have been taken on a wet lease by, or are code-sharing with, an EU operator when commercial air transport flights to any territory subject to the provisions of the Treaty of the European Union are performed. This TCO authorisation is not required for operators only overflying the abovementioned EU territories without a planned landing.

Applications for TCO authorisation should be submitted to EASA at least 30 days before the intended starting date of operation.

Member States continue to be responsible for issuing operating permits. The safety authorisation issued by EASA is one prerequisite in the process of obtaining an operating permit, or equivalent document, from the respective EU Member State under existing Air Service Agreements between EU Member States and third countries.

1.6.4.2 Non-scheduled flights – a one-off notification. A third country operator may perform air ambulance flights or a non-scheduled flight or a series of non-scheduled flights to overcome an unforeseen, immediate and urgent operational need without first obtaining an authorisation, provided that the operator:

  1. notifies EASA in a form and manner established by EASA prior to the intended date of the first flight;
  2. is not subject to an operating ban pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005; and
  3. submits to EASA an application for TCO authorisation within 10 working days after the date of the notification.

The flights specified in the notification may be performed for a maximum period of six consecutive weeks after the date of notification or until EASA has communicated the formal decision on the application for a TCO authorisation, whichever occurs first. One-off notification may be filed only once every 24 months by an operator.

Additional information: http://easa.europa.eu/TCO.

1.7 Subsonic Jet Airplanes

Civil subsonic jet airplane with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 34 tons or more or in accordance with type certificate with more than 19 passenger seats may land at Estonian aerodromes and take off therefrom if its noise level does not exceed the standards specified in Chapter 3, Part 2, Volume I of Annex 16 “Environmental Protection” to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The aforementioned airplane with a noise level exceeding the required standards may only land at and take off from Estonian aerodromes only with the permission by Estonian Transport Administration. In order to be granted permission, an application containing information specified in para. 3.1.2 and a copy of noise certificate issued or recognised by the state of registration of the aircraft, shall be submitted to the Estonian Transport Administration not later than 7 days before the flight.

1.8 Protection of Cargo and Mail Being Carried into the Union from Third Countries

Air carrier carrying cargo or mail from an airport in a third country not listed in point a - p of the current section for transfer, transit or unloading at any airport falling within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 shall be designated as an “Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating into the Union from a Third Country Airport” (ACC3).

Concerning cargo and mail the ACC3 designation is not required for air carriers from the following third countries airports:

  1. Iceland;
  2. Norway;
  3. Switzerland;
  4. Montenegro;
  5. United States of America;
  6. Argentine;
  7. Australia;
  8. Brazil;
  9. Faroe Islands;
  10. Greenland;
  11. Guernsey;
  12. Canada;
  13. China;
  14. Hong Kong (China);
  15. Israel;
  16. Japan;
  17. Jersey.

The Estonian Transport Administration can exempt individual flights operated on behalf of one cargo sender from the requirements in the current section based on risk analysis.

2 Scheduled Flights

2.1 General
2.1.1 Following requirements apply to international flights operated by foreign operators in Estonian airspace:
  1. The state of the operator must be party to the International Air Services Transit Agreement, or
  2. the state of the operator has concluded an air transport agreement with the Republic of Estonia, or
  3. the state of the operator is a Member State of the EU.
2.1.2 Scheduled air services in Estonian airspace are operated under repetitive flight plans (RPL), which shall be submitted to the Estonian Transport Administration for approval at least 30 days before the first scheduled flight.
2.1.3 The states parties to the International Air Services Transit Agreement are entitled to:
  1. fly across the territory of Estonia without landing;
  2. land on the territory of Estonia for non-commercial purposes.
2.2 Documentary Requirements for Clearance of Aircraft
2.2.1 It is necessary that the undermentioned aircraft documents to be submitted by airline operators for clearance on entry and departure of their aircraft to and from Estonia. All documents listed below must follow the ICAO standard format as set in the relevant appendices to ICAO Annex 9 and are acceptable in Estonian, English or Russian and completed in legible handwriting. No visas are required in connection with such documents.
2.2.2 Aircraft documents required (arrival/departure)
Required by
General declaration
Cargo manifest
Stores List
Trade Documents
Estonian Tax and Customs Board
NIL
111
Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
1
NIL
NIL
NIL
Notes:
  1. If no passengers are embarking (disembarking) and no articles are laden (unladen), no aircraft documents except copies of the General Declaration need to be submitted to the above authorities.
2.3 Advance Notification of Arrival
2.3.1 Air Operator carrying passengers from countries outside the European Union to Estonia by air, shall, immediately after check-in, forward to the police of the destination airport the following information on the passengers:
  1. designation and number of travel document;
  2. citizenship;
  3. forename(s) and surname(s);
  4. personal identification code or, in absence thereof, date of birth;
  5. the frontier post of entry to or exit from Estonia;
  6. flight number;
  7. time of departure and arrival of the aircraft (date and time);
  8. total number of passengers;
  9. place of embarkation.
2.3.2 The Air Operator shall communicate the information in electronic form to the frontier post of the destination airport in Estonia:
  1. by enabling the border guard to access the data in the Air Operator’s server, or
  2. through web application.

3 Non-Scheduled Flights

3.1 Procedures
3.1.1 No prior permission is required for aircraft registered in States which are parties to the Chicago Convention to make flights into or in transit over Estonian territory. Prior permission is, however, required for flights with aircraft registered in States, which neither are parties to the Chicago Convention nor to have a special agreement with Estonia. Application for permission should be made through diplomatic channels at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Estonian public holidays) before departure.
3.1.2 Application should contain the following information:
  1. name, address and contact data of the operator;
  2. nationality, type and registration marks of aircraft;
  3. MTOW of the aircraft;
  4. name of the pilot-in-command and size of the crew;
  5. purpose and type (e.g charter) of the flight;
  6. aerodrome of origin, route and destination aerodrome;
  7. dates and times of the flight;
  8. points of entrance into and exit from Estonian airspace and times when the named points are passed;
  9. evidential insurance documents or their copies for the crew, passengers and third persons;
  10. sought period of validity of the flight permission;
  11. TCO authorisation if applicable;
  12. the aviation security programme of the air carrier;
  13. information about cargo and mail carried and proof of ACC3 certification if applicable.

Operators are required to provide other information on demand as deemed necessary by the Estonian Transport Administration for consideration of applications.

3.1.3 In case of a charter flight the permission of Estonian Transport Administration is required if the flight is operated by a foreign air carrier and it is related to embarkation or disembarkation of passengers or cargo in Estonia.
In addition to the information (data) required in para. 3.1.2. above, the application for the permission shall contain:
  1. name, address and contact data of the customer that has ordered the flight;
  2. place of embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and/or cargo;
  3. number of passengers and/or nature and amount of freight to be loaded or unloaded;
  4. radio equipment and frequencies used (applicable in case the operator is not from a member state of Chicago Convention).
3.1.4 Application for permission to operate flights under para. 3.1.3. with aircraft registered in a member state of the Chicago Convention shall contain information according to para. 3.1.2 above and is to be submitted to the Estonian Transport Administration at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Estonian public holidays) before departure via following communication channels:

For aircraft registered in States not parties to the Chicago Convention application should be made through diplomatic channels at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Estonian public holidays) before passing of the boundary line of Estonian territory.

3.1.5 Application for permission under para. 3.1.3 relating to series of more than 4 passengers charter flights during two consecutive calendar months should be made by the following dates:
  1. for flights between 1 APR and 31 OCT (summer period), by 15 JAN;
  2. for flights between 1 NOV and 31 MAR (winter period), by 15 SEP.
3.1.6 Taxi flights to/from Estonia are operated according to the flight plan. No permission required.
3.1.7 Supersonic flights within Estonian airspace can only be performed in accordance with the permission issued by the Government, provided these flights do not damage environment or affect other flights.
3.1.7.1 Application for the permission to perform supersonic flight within Estonian airspace shall be submitted to the Estonian Transport Administration at least 5 working days before departure and shall contain the following data:
  1. nationality, type and registration marks of the aircraft;
  2. maximum permitted take-off weight of the aircraft (MTOW);
  3. purpose of the flight;
  4. points of entering and departure to/from Estonian airspace and times of passing these;
  5. flight levels to be used.
3.1.8 The approval of Estonian Transport Administration is required for regular releasing of meteorological radiosonde balloons.
3.1.9 The flights of foreign experimental aircrafts that enter Estonian airspace, also the test flights of aircraft, and demonstration flights can be operated only with the permission of Estonian Transport Administration.
3.1.9.1 The application for permission shall contain the information required in para. 3.1.2.
3.1.10 Operators of foreign state aircraft shall submit an application to the Estonian Ministry of Defence at least 5 working days before the flight in order to enter Estonian airspace to land in Estonia or fly over the territory, unless resulting otherwise from an agreement concluded between Estonia and a foreign country.An aircraft performing an official visit, other official visit of foreign policy importance or other diplomatic mission shall submit an application to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 5 working days before the flight for a permission to enter the airspace of the Republic of Estonia, land in the territory of the Republic of Estonia or fly over the territory of the Republic of Estonia.
3.1.10.1 In addition to the information required in para. 3.1.2, the application for the permission submitted to the Ministry of Defence shall contain information about the fixed armament and/or photography equipment on board as well as radio call signs and frequencies used.
3.1.11 Work performed on board of an aircraft using high-intensity or equipment that may otherwise interfere with the operation of aircraft on-board systems or ground communication, monitoring and navigation systems requires:
  • a permit from the Estonian Transport Administration in the case of Estonian aircraft or
  • a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the case of foreign aircraft.
In addition to the information required in Chapter 4, the application for a permit shall include a description of the equipment used in the works, the name, address and means of communication of the person ordering the works.
3.1.11.1 The application for permission shall contain the information required in para. 3.1.2, to which the description of equipment used, name, address and means of communication of the customer ordering the research shall be added.
3.1.12 Estonia may restrict rights under para. 3 if Estonian aircraft is not granted reciprocal rights by the State in which the aircraft is registered.
3.2 Documentary Requirements for Clearance of Aircraft
3.2.1 Same requirements as for SCHEDULED FLIGHTS.
3.3 Advance Notification of Arrival
3.3.1 Same requirements as for SCHEDULED FLIGHTS.

4 Private Flights

4.1 Advance Notification of Arrival
4.1.1 No prior permission is required for private flights operated into, in transit over or from Estonian territory by aircraft registered in States which are parties to the Chicago Convention.
4.1.2 Prior permission is required for private flights operated into, in transit over or from Estonian territory with aircraft registered in States not parties to the Chicago Convention. Application should be made through diplomatic channels at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Estonian public holidays) before passing of the boundary line of Estonian territory.
4.1.3 Application shall contain the data according to para. 3.1.2 above, to which the information about radio equipment and frequencies used and total number of persons on board shall be added.
4.1.4 In case of private flights arriving from or heading for the countries outside the European Union, the pilot-in-command shall before take-off forward to the police authorities of the destination country the aircraft enters first, general declaration including inter alia flight plan in accordance with Annex 2 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, and personal data of passengers.
4.2 Documentary Requirements for Clearance of Aircraft
4.2.1 The only document required for the clearance of an aircraft engaged in private flight is the General Declaration. One copy of the General Declaration is signed by the authorities and returned to the pilot-in-command of the aircraft, signifying that all administrative formalities have been duly completed.

5 Public Health Measures Applicable to Aircraft

5.1 According to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) Article 28 para. 4 pilots in command of aircraft, or their agents, shall make known to the airport control as early as possible before arrival at airport of destination any cases of illness indicative of a disease of an infectious nature or evidence of a public health risk on board as soon as such illnesses or public health risks are made known to the pilot. This information must be immediately relayed to the competent authority of the airport.

In exceptional cases, such information should be communicated directly by the pilots to the relevant airport authority.

The pilot in command of an aicraft arriving from the area declared to be affected area by WHO shall submit the Health Section of the General Declaration (IHR 2005 Annex 9) to the following regional office of the Health Board, depenging on where the aircraft lands:
  1. Northern Service of the Health Board
    (Lennart Meri Tallinn Aerodrome)
    Tel:+372 503 7506 (H24)
    E-mail:karantiin@terviseamet.ee
  2. Southern Service of the Health Board
    (Tartu Aerodrome)
    Tel:+372 744 7401
    E-mail:louna@terviseamet.ee
  3. Western Service of the Health Board
    (Pärnu, Kuressaare and Kärdla Aerodromes)
    Tel:+372 443 1135
    E-mail:laane@terviseamet.ee
  4. Eastern Service of the Health Board
    Tel:+372 337 5214
    E-mail:ida@terviseamet.ee
5.2 No health measures shall be applied to aircraft arriving to Estonia, with the exception of cases, where aircraft is recognised as affected or suspected to be affected.
In such case, the competent authority may implement (or require the implementation of) additional health measures, including isolation , disinfection or decontamination of conveyances to prevent the spread of disease.