Six West and Ireland-based Technical Flight Solutions (TFS) have signed an exclusive partnership agreement to meet the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) regulatory provisions for the conduct of Part NCC and Maintenance Check Flight operations, creating the first fully EASA compliant organisation structure in Europe for the use of aircraft lessors.

The regulations provide a robust framework for the operation of aircraft undertaking technical flights such as delivery flights, demonstration flights and maintenance check flights, and are now in line with those already applicable to flight operations conducted in a commercial airline or AOC environment.

This entails making a modified declaration to the home-based regulator, the Irish Aviation Authority, confirming that each aircraft movement is undertaken in accordance with specific Non-Commercial Complex (NCC) regulations, and that all storage, technical or demonstration flights on EASA-registered aircraft are completed under Part NCC and/or Maintenance Check Flight (MCF) regulations.

Previously, these checks could be carried out by independent and unapproved Operators. However, this is no longer the case, and they can only be carried out by an operator who is able to demonstrate full compliance with the regulations and is an Approved Operator under EASA’s Part SPO Regulations.

Matthew Gee, Six West’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Six West is pleased to enhance its collaboration with TFS based on its proven capability in the operation of technical flights in accordance with EASA regulations.

“The exclusive agreement we have signed with TFS will ensure we remain agile and can continue to offer our aircraft lessors, banks, airlines and owners safe and legally compliant solutions.”

Donal Young, Accountable Manager at TFS, said: “We’re very positive and excited about this new relationship which will leverage the skills and capability we have custom built at TFS to deliver on the EASA requirements for our partners and customers. Together with Six West, we aim to take safety and compliance standards within this area of the aviation business to the next level.

“Our exclusive agreement with Six West enhances our ability to deliver their service enhancements to the aircraft leasing industry.”

TFS supports Six West’s operations, requiring NCC and Part SPO compliance on behalf of lessors and airlines on a broad range of commercial aircraft including wide- and narrow-body jets, regional jets and turboprop aircraft.