GEN 1  National regulations and requirements

GEN 1.2   Entry, transit and departure of aircraft

 
ENTRY / EXIT PROCEDURES IN / OUT OF BELIZE  
 
1.1 General
 
1.1 All flights into, from or over the territory of Belize and landing in such territory shall be carried out in accordance with the Belize Civil Aviation Regulations in force.
 
1.2 Aircraft landing in or departing from the territory of Belize must first land at or finally depart from the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport. ICAO Location Indicator MZBZ.
 
1.3 The intent to enter Belize must be a written request addressed to the Director of Civil Aviation detailing flight itinerary (ies), statement if aircraft desires to conduct internal flights and the area which flights are intended and purpose of the visit. Request or application can be sent as detailed in this document. Contact details appearing on the website: www.civilaviation.gov.bz can be used.
 
2. Scheduled flights
 
2.1 General l
 
2.1.1 For international scheduled flights operated by foreign airlines, applications shall be made to the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) in writing using the following address:
 
Air Transport Licensing Authority
c/o Director of Civil Aviation
Department of Civil Aviation
P.O. Box 367
Belize City, Belize
 
2.1.1.2 The applications will be processed in accordance with the Belize Air Transport Licensing of Air Services Regulations.
 
2.1.2 Applications should be accompanied by authenticated copies of aircraft and flight crew technical documentation including: Air Operators Certificates and Licenses or Permits to operate Public Transport Services issued by the Country of Registry and Copies of Insurance Certificates covering liability for carriage of passengers, luggage and freight and damage to Third Parties for the territory of Belize. Additional documentation will be required as indicated in FORM 1 shown below. These must also be submitted.
 
2.1.3 The processing of applications may take up to three months for processing but is dependent on the timely submission of documentation by the applicant and publishing in the Belize Government Gazette for three consecutive weeks for any public objection. An air service licence is normally issued thereafter. A fee in accordance with the current Scheme of Charges/Fees will be applicable.
2.1.4 Services required at the airport level must meet the airport concessionaire requirements.


2.2 Carriage of weapons and ammunition for war and Dangerous Goods.
 
No aircraft will be permitted to carry into or out of Belize Dangerous Goods except with permission, for which application must be made to the Director of Civil Aviation, in writing. Such carriage must be in compliance with provisions contained in ICAO Document 9284 - Technical Instructions for the safe Transport of Goods by the Air, and other instructions or conditions contained in the permit.
 
3. Non-scheduled flights (CHARTER FLIGHTS)
 
3.1 Procedures
 
3.1.1 If an operator intends to carry out one or more non-scheduled flights(s), in transit across, or making non-traffic stops in, the territory of Belize, it is necessary for the operator to obtain prior permission.
 
3.1.2 If an operator intends to perform a (series of) non-scheduled flight(s) into Belize for the purpose of taking on or discharging passengers, cargo or mail, it is necessary for the operator to apply to the Director of Civil Aviation, P.O. Box 367, Belize City, Belize, for permission to carry out such operations not less than FORTY-EIGHT hours in advance of the intended landing. The application must include the following information in the order shown here-under:
 
  1. Name of operator and Air Carrier Operating Certificate (AOC);
  2. Type of aircraft
  3. Nationality and registration marks of the aircraft;
  4. Date and time of arrival at and departure from P.S.W. Goldson International Airport including origin;
  5. Place or places of embarkation or disembarkation abroad, as the case may be, of passengers and/or freight;
  6. Purpose of flight and number of passengers and/or nature and amount of freight; and
  7. Type of freight;
  8. Name of consignee if it is a cargo flight
  9. **Passport details as per table BDCA AIM F-14 FORM shown below in 5.1.3 (to include CREW AND PASSENGER DETAILS);
  10. Name, address and business of charterer, if any.
  11. Name of handling agent in Belize, which is compulsory
  12. Additional documents which are to include:
 
  • Certificate of Airworthiness of aircraft
  • Certificate of Registration of aircraft
  • Pilot's License and Pilot's Medical Certificate
  • Insurance documents of aircraft stating coverage for the territory of Belize
 
3.1.3 Application is to be made by AFS to MZBZYAYX or by e-mail to belize.ais@civilavaiation.gov.bz and copied to supervisor.ais@civilaviation.gov.bz The pertinent Form BDCA AIM F-14 (REV. 1) is user friendly and appears on the website in FORMS. These Form which is revised from time to time, can be downloaded from the Belize Department of Civil Aviation website: www.civilaviation.gov.bz
 
4. Documentary requirements for clearance of aircraft
 
4.1 It is necessary that the below mentioned aircraft documents be submitted by airline operators for clearance on entry or departure of their aircraft to and from Belize. All documents listed below must follow the ICAO standard format as set forth in the relevant appendices to ICAO Annex 9 (Facilitation) and must be furnished in the English language and duly completed.
4.2 Aircraft documents required (arrival/departure) TOTAL OF NINE
 
Required byGeneral DeclarationPassengerManifest Cargo
Customs626
Immigration211
Public Health11
Belize Health Authority1
Department of Civil Aviation11
 
5. ADDITIONAL ENTRY, TRANSIT AND DEPARTURE OF AIRCRAFT
 
5.1. General
 
5.1.1 An Aircraft Clearance Certificate (ACC) must be completed upon landing which will require the stamps of all entry and exit Facilitation agencies at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport.
 
5.1.2 For local flights the operator must seek permission from the Belize AIS/ARO. Authorization will be given at this office once all requirements are met. Pre-flight briefing will also be given at this office.
 
5.1.3 BDCA AIM F-14 (REV 1) Form, as shown below, must be filled and submitted prior to entry into Belize. Upon receipt of the application the AIS/ARO Officers will process it and return it with an official Clearance Number. No aircraft must depart towards the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport unless they have received an official Clearance Number.

6. Private flights including fixed and rotor wing – helicopters
 
6.1 Advance notification of arrival
 
6.1.1 The information contained in the flight plan is necessary and must be filed at last point of departure. The information REQUIRED is similar to that of Charter Flights but excludes the AOC. A clearance number will subsequently be issued by the Belize AIS/ARO Office.
 
6.1.2 It must be ensured that the following original documents for the aircraft and flight crew are submitted well in advance, especially if there are plans to fly internally in Belize. This includes the following:
 
  1. Certificate of Airworthiness of aircraft
  2. Certificate of Registration of aircraft
  3. Pilot's Licence and Medical Certificate
  4. Third Party Insurance covering Belizean territory
  5. Crew and passenger details as per Table in Form BDCA AIM F-14 (REV 1)
  6. Name of handling agent which is compulsory
 
6.1.3 The aforementioned documents MUST be scanned and sent via e-mail to belize.ais@civilaviation.gov.bz and copied to supervisor.ais@civilaviation.gov.bz The documents must be sent at least forty-eight hours in advance.
 
6.1.4 As to the services of handlers at MZBZ, the only authorized agency is Belize Aero Dispatch Services. (Tel: 501-225-2163).
 
6.1.5 Upon arrival, the pilot needs to present the Aircraft Clearance Certificate together with the General Declaration Forms to all Facilitation agencies as indicated, at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport’s arrival hall.
 
6.1.6 Clearance to conduct domestic flights within Belize must be obtained at the Belize AIS/ARO Office. Authorization may be given once all requirements have been met. The pertinent - Aircraft Clearance Certificate will be endorsed by the AIS/ARO Office and must be carried on board the aircraft at all times once domestic flights are being conducted. This Form must be presented to Belizean law enforcement agencies once it is requested.
 
6.1.7 Ambulance / emergency flights are exempted for the 48 hour application requirement.
 
7. CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE BELIZE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION:
 
TEL: (501) 225-2014 & (501) 225-2153
 
7.1 The Forms can be downloaded from Forms / Air Transport from the Belize Department of Civil Aviation website: www.civilaviation.gov.bz
 
8. FLIGHT PLANS.
 
Flight plans must be filed from last point of departure for entry into Belize.
 
8.1 Flight Plans must also be filed at least two hours prior to departure. The AIS/ARO will only process Flight Plans once all exit requirements including ALL airport fees are paid.
 
9. COVID- 19 PROTOCOLS.
 
9.1 COVID 19 Protocols as established by the Ministry responsible for health in Belize, will be applicable for entry into Belize. These protocols may be revised from time to time and the aviation public is reminded to strictly adhere to these protocols. Such protocols will be contained in the message whenever a flight is cleared to enter Belize.