DGAC

DGAC stands for Direction générale de l'Aviation civile, the national civil aviation authority of France. It operates as a directorate-general within the French Ministry of Transport and is responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of all civil aviation activities in France. Its mandate covers the certification and surveillance of air operators, aircraft and maintenance organizations, air crew licensing, and the certification of aerodromes and air navigation services. The DGAC also develops and enforces national regulations in line with European Union rules and international standards. It oversees airspace management, aviation security, and environmental initiatives related to aviation, and it coordinates with French authorities on safety and security matters. When accidents or serious incidents occur, the DGAC cooperates with the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA), supporting investigations and safety recommendations.

The DGAC represents France in international bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It works with airports, airlines, and maintenance providers to ensure compliance and air transport safety, and it maintains statistics, safety data, and certification records. The agency's work is organized through regional and sector-specific services that liaise with industry and the public, and it contributes to traffic management and modernization of airspace in alignment with European developments. While primarily associated with France, DGAC can be referenced as the civil aviation authority in French-speaking contexts, though other countries use distinct agencies for their national aviation oversight.