Icelandic aerodromes are certified according to regulation no. 464 on aerodromes from 2007. Certification of aerodromes in Iceland began in 2004 when a regulation on aerodromes was originally issued in the country. The regulation mostly reflects Annex 14, Parts I and II, of the Chicago Convention as regards aerodromes in category I and heliports. The regulation includes a part specific to Iceland which mainly covers aerodromes in category II and in the category of registered landing strips.
According to the regulation, aerodrome operators must apply for an aerodrome certificate for the operation. There are two kinds of certificates according to the regulation; aerodrome certificate and registration. Aerodrome certificates are issued for the operation of aerodromes in category I.
Aerodromes are divided into the following four categories; Aerodrome I, Aerodrome II, Registered landing strip, Heliport.
Aerodromes in category I are certified as international aerodromes and serve international flights. Other categories of aerodromes are subject to mandatory registration and serve flights within Iceland and generally do not fully meet requirements set for international aerodromes.
There are currently 4 aerodromes in Iceland in aerodrome category I:
- Akureyri Aerodrome
- Egilsstaðir Aerodrome
- Keflavik Aerodrome
- Reykjavik Aerodrome
No aerodrome in category II is currently in operation.
There are more than sixty aerodromes in the category of registered landing strips. An index of those aerodromes can be seen in the aerodrome chapter of the Aeronautical Information Publication AIP-Iceland.
It may be said that a fifth category actually exists which includes landing and take-off areas which pilots decide to use outside aerodromes with a certificate from the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration (ICAA). The ICAA has issued an AIC - Aerodrome Information Circular on landings and take-offs outside aerodromes (AIC B03/2007). Such areas are completely uncertified by the ICAA, and landings outside certified aerodromes are the responsibility of the pilot-in-command. It should be noted that if the operation of a landing/take-off area falls under the scope of the regulation, the regulation stipulates that it is mandatory to register the area as an aerodrome. This mandatory registration is in accordance with article 5 which states the following: “It is not permissible to operate an aerodrome subject to mandatory registration, without a confirmed registration being valid”.