Manufacture, development and maintenance of aircraft and aviation equipment

An unqualified (free) trade (field no. 34 of Annex 4 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering the manufacture, development, design, testing, installation, maintenance, repair, modification and structural changes of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, aircraft parts and equipment, and aviation ground equipment. It does not require professional qualification - it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for operating

Full legal capacity (Section 6(1) of the Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.)
A clean criminal record (Section 6(2) of the Trade Licensing Act)
Professional qualification is not required - this is an unqualified (free) trade (Annex 4 to the Trade Licensing Act)
The licence arises already on the day of notification (Section 10(1)(a) of the Trade Licensing Act)
Note: beyond the trade licence, the performance of the activity itself is regulated by aviation rules and as a rule requires authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under Act No. 49/1997 Coll., on civil aviation, and compliance with EU rules (EASA)
The option (not mandatory) to appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act - for an unqualified (free) trade without proving qualification

Examples of activities

manufacture of aircraft, gliders and helicopters
manufacture and repair of aircraft engines and propellers
development and design of aviation technology
manufacture and assembly of aircraft parts and equipment (avionics, undercarriages, airframes)
maintenance, repairs and modifications of aircraft
structural changes of aviation technology
manufacture and maintenance of aviation ground equipment
testing of aircraft and aviation equipment

What this trade is and what it is for

This unqualified (free) trade (field of activity no. 34 within the single unqualified (free) trade under Annex 4 to the Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.) covers the entire life cycle of aviation technology. It includes the manufacture, development, design, testing, installation, maintenance, repair, modification and structural changes of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, aircraft parts and equipment, and aviation ground equipment.

It serves entrepreneurs who wish to manufacture or develop aircraft and their components, carry out their service and maintenance, or supply and maintain the ground equipment needed for the operation of airports and air transport. From the point of view of the Trade Licensing Act this is an unqualified (free) trade, so you do not need to prove professional qualification to notify it. It is important, however, that beyond the trade licence the actual performance of many of these activities is regulated by aviation rules and as a rule requires authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and compliance with the rules of the European Union (EASA).

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular:

manufacture of aircraft, gliders, helicopters and unmanned aircraft,
development and design of aviation technology and aviation equipment,
manufacture and repair of aircraft engines and propellers,
manufacture, assembly and repair of aircraft parts and equipment (avionics, undercarriages, airframes),
maintenance, repairs, modifications and structural changes of aircraft,
manufacture and maintenance of aviation ground equipment (e.g. ground handling and navigation technology).

What does not fall under this trade: the operation of air transport and aerial work itself (this is governed outside the Trade Licensing Act by Act No. 49/1997 Coll., on civil aviation), pilot training, or design activity in the construction of airports as buildings (authorisation under Act No. 360/1992 Coll., on the practice of the profession of authorised architects and authorised engineers and technicians active in construction). Watch out, too, for the boundary with craft and regulated trades: general locksmithing, tinsmithing or electrical installation work outside the aviation context belong to other trades.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, it is enough to meet only the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (for a minor it can be replaced by the court's approval of the legal representative's consent to operating the trade),
a clean criminal record within the meaning of Section 6(2).

Professional qualification is not proven for an unqualified (free) trade - you do not have to provide any education or practical experience. This applies to the trade licence as such; for the actual performance of the manufacture and maintenance of aviation technology, however, you will typically need authorisations and certificates under aviation rules (CAA, EASA), which are handled by an authority other than the Trade Licensing Office.

If you do not wish to or cannot operate the trade in person, you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. For an unqualified (free) trade the responsible representative does not prove qualification, but must meet the general conditions. One person may act as responsible representative for at most four entrepreneurs.

How to notify the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) to notify the trade.
Submit it at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through a Czech POINT contact point.
Prove your identity and pay the administrative fee.
You notify an unqualified (free) trade within the single unqualified (free) trade - you may notify several fields of activity at once for one administrative fee.

The trade licence arises already on the day of notification; the Office enters you in the Trade Register within 5 working days. You will find the detailed procedure in the guide /jak-zalozit-zivnost.

Documents and fees

completed URF (notification of the trade),
identity document, and for foreigners the relevant residence documents,
an administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for the notification (CZK 800 for an electronic submission),
adding another field of the unqualified (free) trade is free of charge (CZK 0),
registration in the register within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an aviation school or practical experience?

Not for notifying the trade itself - it is a free trade and qualification is not proven. For the practical performance of manufacturing or maintaining aircraft, however, you need authorisation under aviation rules (CAA, EASA).

How much will I pay for the notification?

CZK 1,000 when submitting at the Office, or CZK 800 electronically via rzp.gov.cz. Adding another field of the unqualified (free) trade is free.

When can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the day of notification. Registration in the Trade Register takes place within 5 working days.

Do I need a responsible representative?

You do not have to. You may appoint one voluntarily under Section 11; for an unqualified (free) trade they do not have to prove qualification, only the general conditions.

Is the trade enough to operate air transport?

No. The operation of air transport and aerial work is governed by Act No. 49/1997 Coll., on civil aviation, and requires separate permits outside the Trade Licensing Act.

Sources

Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1991-455
Ministry of Industry and Trade: https://www.mpo.gov.cz