Despite recent media hype about plans by two rice mill owners-turned-billionaires to purchase aircraft, neither has approached the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAA) to secure an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), an official confirmed yesterday.
Billionaires Dudley Sirisena and Mithrapala Lankeshwara have stated intentions to buy helicopters for personal and commercial use. However, any domestic or international aviation operation requires proper licensing from the CAA, the country’s regulatory body.
CAA Director-General Daminda Rambukwella explained that there is a five-step process to obtain an AOC, and neither individual has contacted the Authority. “Seeing aircraft at air shows does not mean ownership. The first step is to notify us about starting an airline and submit an application for an AOC,” he said.
Applicants must appoint key management and technical personnel, including an accountable manager, quality manager, licensed engineers, and type-rated pilots. Detailed operational and engineering manuals must be submitted, and the aircraft must be registered in Sri Lanka with Certificates of Registration and Airworthiness.
For aircraft new to the registry, CAA inspectors must examine it, and the operator must demonstrate adequate facilities such as hangars, maintenance arrangements, and operational control systems. A proving flight is also mandatory to assess passenger handling, emergency procedures, and ground arrangements.
The full process can take up to six months depending on the applicant’s readiness, after which the Authority issues the AOC along with operational specifications.
Meanwhile, Mithrapala Lankeshwara said he plans to travel to the United States next month to purchase the aircraft, explaining that earlier business commitments had delayed the trip.
