S.L. 333.1 Art. 3Charges to be paid to Eurocontrol.

(1) Subject to the provisions of these regulations, the operator of an aircraft shall pay to Eurocontrol a route charge, hereinafter referred to as "the charge", in respect of IFR flights performed by his aircraft in the specified airspace in accordance with the procedures laid down in application of the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

(2) The charge shall constitute remuneration for the costs incurred by Malta Air Traffic Services Limited in respect of en-route air navigation facilities and services and the operation of the Route Charges System. It shall also constitute remuneration for the costs incurred by the Department of Civil Aviation in respect of its regulatory function and for the costs incurred by Eurocontrol in operating the System.

(3) Eurocontrol shall assess and collect the charge due and reimburse Malta Air Traffic Services Limited and the Department of Civil Aviation in accordance with the applicable rules.

(4) If Eurocontrol is unable, after taking reasonable steps, to ascertain who is the operator, it may give notice to the owner of the aircraft that it will treat him as the operator until he establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of Eurocontrol that some other person is the operator; and from the time when the notice is given Eurocontrol shall be entitled, for so long as the owner is unable to establish as aforesaid that some other person is the operator, to treat the owner as if he were the operator, and for that purpose the provisions of these regulations other than this subregulation, shall apply to the owner of the aircraft.