Argentina modernizes aviation rules, eases GA and charter operations

Argentina’s National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) has enacted sweeping changes to the country’s civil aviation regulations that liberalize flying rules for general aviation, simplify operational requirements, and update licensing standards, as part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s aviation framework.  
 
The reforms are set to take effect on March 1, 2026, and aim to reduce administrative burdens on aircraft operators and pilots while maintaining safety. 

Under the new rules, private and recreational flights conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) will no longer be required to file a flight plan, a bureaucratic hurdle that long applied even to short local flights. Pilots who meet established requirements will also be allowed to conduct night VFR operations nationwide, ending a longstanding prohibition that limited GA operations after sunset.  

ANAC is also modernizing requirements for operations in the Argentine Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Once the changes are reflected in the Aeronautical Information Publication, aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) will no longer need to file separate flight plans in ADIZ airspace, reflecting increased confidence in modern surveillance technology. 

The changes extend beyond GA operation rules. Under the revised regulations, Part 135 charter operators may request approval for single-pilot operations in aircraft equipped with a three-axis autopilot and carrying fewer than 10 passengers, aligning Argentina with international standards. 

In the licensing arena, ANAC has eliminated the 900-flight-hour requirement previously tied to the first-class commercial pilot license for both scheduled and non-scheduled airline operations. The reform aligns pilot qualification standards with modern training trends and competency-based assessment, potentially enlarging the pool of eligible pilots in a market where demand for qualified crews has been growing.  

Other aspects of the overhaul include updates to minimum equipment standards and better alignment of medical flight requirements, as well as expanded eligibility for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. ANAC said the changes result from a comprehensive technical review that accounted for technological advancements, practical operational experience, and recommendations from international organizations, all while safeguarding safety margins.  

Industry reactions have been positive, with many pilots and operators welcoming the increase in operational flexibility. General aviation pilots, in particular, see the removal of flight plan and night-VFR restrictions as significant steps toward reducing red tape and improving efficiency. Charter operators, meanwhile, gain opportunities to innovate business models under the single-pilot provisions.