OSAC

What OSAC does

OSAC (Organisme pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile), founded in 2010 and headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, is the exclusive ministerial-delegate technical oversight body for French civil aviation. Operating as a SASU subsidiary of the Apave Group under the renewed arrêté d'habilitation of December 20, 2023, OSAC acts as part of the Competent Authority, by delegation of the Minister for civil aviation, and as exclusive subcontractor of DSAC acting on behalf of EASA. It issues, monitors, suspends, and withdraws approvals for production (Part 21G/21F), maintenance (Part 145, Part M/G), continuing airworthiness management (Part-CAMO, Part-CAO), and training (Part 147) organizations; performs airworthiness examinations and Annexe I aircraft classification; and issues Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licenses (LMA).

The company's product portfolio combines a regulated core (Surveillance de la navigabilité / Airworthiness Surveillance, Approvals, Aircraft Services, LMA) with commercial modules delivered through OSAC Apave Aeroservices: training programs in aeronautical risk management (including MOOC formats for EU 2019/1383 and 2020/270), COFRAC-accredited quality management system certification under ISO 9001, EN 9100, EN 9110, and EN 9120, and authority-support consulting. Proprietary technical assets include Risk-Based Oversight (RBO) models that integrate financial, organizational, and supplementary standards data to modulate surveillance cycles, plus digital platforms such as the espaceclient.osac.aero client portal, the documentation.osac.aero platform, and the EMPIC web service launched for CEN submissions in December 2025. A workforce of 173 holds individual Aeronautical Inspector Licenses revalidated triennially and operates across 14 French locations, including 4 overseas territories.

OSAC's revenue model rests on two streams: mandatory regulatory services priced under the state fee schedule (redevances) set by ministerial decree and invoiced through multi-year oversight cycles (€31 million disclosed for FY2024, across approximately 2,500 monitored aircraft out of France's 14,000-aircraft fleet), and commercial services (training, certification, authority support) provided under direct contract to civil and military aviation authorities including DSAé, DGA, BMAA, Norwegian Armed Forces, EDA, and Mauritius Civil Aviation. Pricing for regulatory services is administratively determined, with a 5% tariff increase effective January 1, 2024 under the December 7, 2023 decree and a successor arrêté of April 18, 2025. Distribution combines direct field inspection across 14 implantations with a self-serve client portal, supported by regulatory outreach through flashs usagers, industry events, MOOC broadcasts (over 800 participants on Part-IS cyber webinars), and the GCCCTA consultation group with Aéro-Club de France, Air France, AOPA France, and GIFAS.

Name

OSAC

Legal name

OSAC

Website

https://osac.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

OSAC is the exclusive French ministerial-delegate body performing technical oversight, approvals, and licensing for civil aviation, serving DGAC, EASA, military authorities (DGA, DSAé, BMAA, Norway), and ICAO under a regulated fee-based model across 14 French locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Aviation Safety Oversight

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

MRO Engineering, Technical Publications & CAMO Support (IMABALAO), Aircraft Inspection, Quality Assurance & Airworthiness (IA Prep) (EDAOAFAE)

Keywords

• Civil aviation oversight
• Airworthiness surveillance
• Aviation regulatory compliance
• Aircraft maintenance licensing
• Aviation safety auditing

Headquarters

HQ city

Issy-les-moulineaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Oversight Services (Habilitation): OSAC performs mandated technical control missions (expertise, instruction, audits, verifications) required for the issuance, suspension, or withdrawal of airworthiness documents, approvals, and mechanic licenses. These services are performed as part of the Competent Authority, by delegation of the Minister for civil aviation, and as subcontractor of DSAC, under the regulatory framework of the ministerial decree (arrêté). The costs are recovered through the state fee schedule (arrêté redevances).
2. Paid Inspection and Support Services: With DGAC agreement, OSAC provides paid inspection and support services to civil and military authorities, and certification services to private companies under ISO 9001, EN 9100, EN 9110, EN 9120 standards. These commercial services are billed through OSAC Apave Aeroservices, the group's center of excellence for aviation safety.
3. Training Services: OSAC delivers regulatory and technical training to aviation organizations and authorities, in areas such as airworthiness, operations, quality management, and safety. Training is delivered in-person, on-the-job, or via distance learning including MOOC platforms. Pricing follows a fee schedule accessible through the client portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OSAC performs mandated technical oversight and regulatory compliance auditing of civil aviation, by ministerial delegation from the French civil aviation authority (DGAC/DSAC). Its core offering is airworthiness surveillance: issuing, monitoring, suspending, and withdrawing approvals for production, maintenance, continuing airworthiness management, and training organizations, as well as issuing airworthiness documents and Aircraft Maintenance Licenses (LMA/Part-66). This is supplemented by paid commercial services including regulatory training, QMS certification under ISO 9001/EN 91X0, and consultancy support to civil and military aviation authorities via OSAC Apave Aeroservices.

Product overview

OSAC operates as a ministerial-authorized aeronautical safety organization offering a unified portfolio of regulatory oversight and compliance services for the French civil aviation sector. The core offering centers on airworthiness surveillance (Surveillance de la navigabilité), which encompasses approvals monitoring, aircraft documentation, and mechanic licensing. This core is complemented by five interconnected service modules: Training for aeronautical risk management, Quality Management System Certification, Authority Support consulting, and Research & Development including risk-based oversight (RBO) digital tools developed in partnership with group affiliates. The company also delivers specialized aircraft maintenance licensing (LMA Part-66) and maintains an online client portal (Espace client) for service access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surveillance de la navigabilité (Airworthiness Surveillance) OSAC's core regulatory oversight service delivering and monitoring approvals for production, maintenance, and maintenance training organizations, as well as issuing aircraft airworthiness documents and mechanic licenses, performed under ministerial habilitation as part of the Competent Authority.
• Licence de Maintenance d'Aéronefs (Aircraft Maintenance License - LMA) Issuance, amendment, renewal, and monitoring of Aircraft Maintenance Licenses (LMA) in accordance with Part-66 of European Regulation (EU) 1321/2014. Since 2017, OSAC-issued licenses incorporate physical security features (embossed OSAC logo, non-reproducible silver border, OSAC watermark background).
• Agréments (Approvals) Instruction and surveillance of organism approvals including Production Part-21G, Production 21G National, Continuing Airworthiness Management Part-CAMO, Maintenance Part-145, National Maintenance Approval, Combined Part-CAO, and Training Part-147.
• Aéronefs (Aircraft Services) Airworthiness examination services for EASA and Annex 1 aircraft including classification, airworthiness certificate renewal, export certification, and onboard document management.
• Formations à la maîtrise des risques aéronautiques (Training for Aeronautical Risk Management) Regulatory and technical training programs covering airworthiness, operations, risk management, quality management, and dangerous goods handling, delivered in-person, on-site, or via MOOC format to aviation organizations and authorities.
• Certification de Systèmes de Management de la Qualité (Quality Management System Certification) Assessment and certification services for quality management systems according to ISO 9001, EN 9100, EN 9110, and EN 9120 standards for aerospace, space, and defense organizations, delivered through OSAC Apave Aeroservices.
• Support aux Autorités (Support to Authorities) Consulting, diagnostic, support, training, and authority reinforcement services for civil and military aviation authorities across all domains of aeronautical safety, including EASA subcontracting and ICAO COSCAP programs.
• Risk-Based Oversight (RBO) Digital Solutions Digital platform developed by OSAC, SixFoisSept, and Apave Aeroconsulting for implementing risk-based oversight of approved organizations and aircraft, integrating risk analysis models with financial, organizational, and supplementary standards from aerospace, space, and defense sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 173 employees managing oversight of 14,000 aircraft, 1,056 organism approvals, 5,500 audits, and 2,720 mechanic licenses annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique d'Etat (DMAé) - ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The consortium of Apave Aeroservices, Apave Conseil, and OSAC won the DMAé market for analyzing and improving the implementation of state airworthiness for French Armed Forces. The consortium delivered its analysis report in June 2020 and provided optimization recommendations to improve aircraft availability rates.
• Norwegian Armed ForcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021OSAC won the Norwegian Ministry of Defence tender in 2020 to assist in establishing military airworthiness in accordance with EMAR standards, beginning 2021 for an initial 2-year renewable period. Activities include training, consulting, system safety analysis, and certification support.
• Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020OSAC was designated in late 2020 as the sole contractor to assist DGA in certification and surveillance of design and production organizations, and in airworthiness follow-up including analysis and monitoring of aviation event reports, under a 9-year framework agreement through 2029.
• Belgian Military Airworthiness Authority (BMAA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017OSAC serves as the qualified entity designated by Belgian BMAA to process and surveil organizations applying for or holding BMAR (Belgian Military Airworthiness Requirements) approvals for military aircraft maintenance and airworthiness management. The third consecutive framework contract was awarded in July 2025 for 4 years through 2029.
• Apave GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC is a senior subsidiary (SASU, first-tier) of Apave SA, with a share capital of €1,000,000. The Apave Group provides OSAC with its institutional brand, 881M€ revenue base, 11,100 employees, 130 agency network, 170 training sites, and international presence across 50 countries. OSAC Apave Aeroservices is the group's center of excellence for aviation safety.
• OACI (ICAO) - COSCAP ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC holds a framework contract with ICAO to provide training for civil aviation authorities in the COSCAP (Co-operative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programmes) zone, covering aircraft operations, personnel licensing, and airworthiness domains. This is a flagship international cooperation program.
• European Defence Agency (EDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC and Apave Aeroservices provide ongoing assistance to the European Defence Agency for improving the use and updating of EMACC (European Military Airworthiness Certification Criteria) certification criteria databases, developing methodology for operational risk integration in airworthiness criteria, and creating a prototype tool for European military airworthiness certification.
• Direction de l'Aviation Civile du Luxembourg (DAC Luxembourg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC directly handles instruction and surveillance of Part 21G production approvals held by organizations on Luxembourg territory, under a direct protocol linking OSAC to the DAC Luxembourg, replacing the previous DGAC intermediary arrangement.
• Aviation Civile de l'Ile MauricecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe joint OSAC/DSAC offer was selected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Mauritius to perform air safety surveillance missions for a 3-year period. OSAC also conducts occasional missions in medical, ATM, and helicopter operations domains through specialized experts.
• ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC co-founded and animates the Mastère spécialisé 'Safety Management in Aviation' with ENAC. OSAC delivers the 'Maintenance' module within this program, and also delivers training in the 'Advanced Master in Aviation Safety Aircraft Airworthiness' and 'MSc in Aerospace - International Air Transport Operations Management' programs.
• EPF (Ecole Polytechnique Féminine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC is a partner of EPF for training engineering students within the 'Design and Certification in Civil Aviation' and 'Production in Civil Aviation' academic tracks.
• IPSA (Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Avancées)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC participates in IPSA's advisory boards (conseils de perfectionnement), contributing expertise on the adequacy of training programs with industry needs.
• IFURTA - Université Aix-MarseilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC regularly delivers lectures in the 'Safety Management System and Human Factors' seminar for Master 2 students in Air Transport Law and Management at IFURTA.
• EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSAC serves as exclusive subcontractor of DSAC when the latter acts on behalf of EASA. OSAC provides product certification support (minor changes/repairs, continued airworthiness), organization approval and surveillance (POA, MOA, MTOA), and flight standards support including MRB process participation and OSD MT assessment.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC conglomerate with an Aerospace & Aviation practice performing airworthiness audits, EN 9100/9110/9120 certification, and MRO oversight support. Comparable to OSAC through its commercial certification and inspection services, though operating without regulatory mandate authority.
• Apave SA: OSAC's parent company and France's leading TIC group (€881M revenue, 11,100 employees) with broad industrial inspection, certification, and training services across infrastructure, energy, and construction. Comparable as a group but operates at much broader scope than OSAC's aviation specialization.
• SGS: World's largest TIC company with aerospace practice providing certification, supply chain inspection, and aviation quality services. Comparable through its commercial certification and inspection portfolio, though aviation represents only a small fraction of its diversified business.
• Intertek: Global TIC group with aerospace and aviation certification services including EN 9100 audits and aviation quality assurance. Comparable to OSAC's certification and quality management business, though operating primarily as a commercial body without regulatory mandate authority.
• DNV: Norwegian-headquartered TIC and certification company with aerospace practice offering EN 9100 certification, aviation safety management systems audits, and airworthiness-related assurance services. Comparable to OSAC's commercial certification line, especially relevant given OSAC's Norwegian MoD contract.

Direct peers

• TÜV SÜD: International TIC firm with a dedicated Aerospace division providing EN 9100 certification, airworthiness consulting, MRO audits, and aviation training. Closely comparable to OSAC Apave Aeroservices' commercial certification and training business, especially across European defense and aerospace programs.
• DEKRA: German-headquartered TIC company operating an Aviation division that conducts EN 9100/9110/9120 audits, Part 145 and Part 147 training, and aviation safety consulting. Highly comparable to OSAC's combination of certification, training, and aviation safety services, though primarily commercial rather than regulatory.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC provider with Aerospace and Defense certification services including EN 9100 series audits, aviation system certification, and airworthiness-related assessments. Comparable to OSAC's certification and oversight services through its COFRAC-accredited ISO/EN 9100 business line.

Others

• COFRAC: French national accreditation body that accredits OSAC Apave Aeroservices (accreditation n° 4-0605) for ISO 9001 and EN 9100/9110/9120 certification. Not a competitor but an ecosystem enabler whose accreditation framework defines the certification market in which OSAC operates.
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): EU-wide aviation safety regulator for which OSAC serves as exclusive DSAC subcontractor. Not a direct peer but a key counterparty: changes in EASA's oversight model or direct contracting approach would directly affect OSAC's volume of regulated work in Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aviationosac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC80Co64Gj4Fe-x52kvOZj4A
• Facebookfacebook.com/OSACaviation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/osac-organisme-pour-la-s%C3%A9curit%C3%A9-de-laviation-civile

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OSAC