Aviation Law

Aviation is among the most internationally regulated industries in the world, and its Tanzanian dimension - administered by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) under the Civil Aviation Act - demands advisers fluent in both local licensing practice and international convention law. FIN & LAW provides that combination.

We advise airlines, operators, lessors, financiers and service providers on air operator certification and licensing, aircraft registration and deregistration on the Tanzanian registry, and the structuring of aircraft leases and financings, including the perfection of security interests and Cape Town Convention considerations. Our team also handles regulatory compliance, ground-handling and codeshare agreements, and aviation insurance placements and claims.

In contentious matters, we represent clients in passenger and cargo claims, incident investigations and disputes with regulators - bringing the firm’s dispute-resolution depth to a highly technical field.

What We Do

• Air operator certificates, licensing and TCAA regulatory advisory
• Aircraft registration, deregistration and export
• Aircraft leasing, financing and security perfection
• Cape Town Convention advisory and IDERA filings
• Ground handling, codeshare and interline agreements
• Aviation insurance placement and claims
• Passenger and cargo liability claims
• Incident response, investigations and regulatory disputes

Typical Matters

• Aircraft registration, deregistration and registration of mortgages and security interests with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)
• Aircraft acquisition, sale, operating and finance leasing and related financing arrangements
• Air operator certification, licensing and regulatory compliance for airlines and operators
• Advisory on the Cape Town Convention and international interests in aircraft equipment
• Liability, insurance and claims arising from carriage of passengers and cargo, accidents and ground handling
• Airport concession, ground services and other aviation-related commercial contracts

Frequently Asked Questions

Who regulates civil aviation in Tanzania?

Civil aviation is overseen by the national civil aviation authority, which handles licensing, safety oversight, and airworthiness in line with international standards. Operators, airports, and personnel must meet its regulatory requirements.

What legal issues arise in aircraft financing and leasing?

Aircraft transactions commonly involve leases, financing and security arrangements, registration of the aircraft, and cross-border enforcement considerations. Because aircraft are high-value mobile assets, careful documentation and registration of interests are essential.

How is liability handled in aviation?

Liability for passengers and cargo is shaped by international conventions and national law, which allocate responsibility and, in some cases, cap or condition claims. The applicable regime depends on the nature of the flight and the parties involved.

What approvals are needed to operate an air service?

Operating commercial air services generally requires an air operator certificate and related economic and safety authorisations, along with ongoing compliance obligations. These requirements exist to safeguard passenger safety and orderly operation of the sector.