Question 1: Do you fly aircraft to or from aeronautical facilities (airports, heliports, etc.) within one or more of the following countries or country territories?

Countries and their territories included in the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) include:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
    • Aland Islands
  • France
    • Guadeloupe
    • French Guiana
    • Martinique
    • Reunion
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
    • The Azores
    • Madeira
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
    • The Canary Islands
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
    • Akrotiri
    • Dhekelia

If yes, proceed to question 2.

If no, the EU-ETS does not apply to your flight operation.


Question 2: Are you a commercial aircraft operator who holds an air operator’s certificate (AOC), such as an FAA Part 135 certificate?

If yes, proceed to question 3.

If no, proceed to question 4.


Question 3: Since you answered yes to question 2 by holding a commercial aircraft operator certificate, do you operate fewer than 243 flights per period during these four-month periods (January-April, May-August, September-December) or emit less than 10,000 metric tons of CO2 per year when flying to or from aeronautical facilities (airports, heliports, etc.) that lie within countries or country territories subject to the EU-ETS?

Annual emissions can be estimated from your fuel consumption during one year. The estimated annual emissions can be calculated from the fuel consumption by using the following formula:

Estimated annual emissions = Annual fuel consumption in pounds x 0.0014288159655

If yes, your operation is exempt from the EU ETS.

If no, continue to question 4.


Question 4: Does one or more of the following exemptions apply to your flight operation?

  • All flights are conducted by aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight which is less than 12,566 pounds
  • All flights are military and/or customs and/or police flights
  • All flights are conducted under visual flight rules
  • All flights are performed exclusively for the transport, on official mission, of a reigning Monarch and his immediate family, Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Government Ministers, of a country other than an EU member country.
  • All flights are flights related to search and rescue, firefighting flights, humanitarian flights and emergency medical service flights authorized by the appropriate competent authority.
  • All flights are flights terminating at the aerodrome from which the aircraft has taken off and during which no intermediate landing has been made;
  • All flights are training flights performed exclusively for the purpose of obtaining a license, or a rating in the case of cockpit flight crew
  • All flights are flights performed exclusively for the purpose of scientific research or for the purpose of checking, testing or certifying aircraft or equipment whether airborne or ground-based;
  • All flights are flights performed in the framework of public service obligations imposed in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 on routes within outermost regions, as specified in Article 299(2) of the Treaty, or on routes where the capacity offered does not exceed 30,000 seats per year.

If yes, you are exempted from complying with the ETS.

If no, your operation is required to participate in the EU ETS. Proceed to Step 2 for further instructions.