Your document management glossary

An Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is a formal authorization issued by a national aviation authority—such as the FAA (United States) or EASA (Europe)—that permits an organization to perform commercial air transport operations.

To obtain an AOC, an operator must demonstrate that it has the necessary personnel, systems, procedures, and aircraft in place to ensure safe operations. This includes proving compliance with maintenance standards, crew training requirements, operational control systems, and safety management protocols.

The AOC is a foundational requirement for operating under regulatory frameworks like Part 135 or Part 121 in the U.S. or EU-OPS in Europe. It typically includes specifications such as:

• Types of approved aircraft

• Areas of authorized operation

• Nature of approved services (passenger, cargo, etc.)

For holders of an AOC, maintaining up-to-date documentation is critical. Web Manuals supports operators by offering a digital, compliance-friendly platform to create, manage, and distribute operational manuals, helping ensure that all regulatory obligations tied to the AOC are continuously met and auditable.