• 1. Aviation community and the role of SITA
• 2. Policy structure.
• 3. Registration process.

• 4. Eligibility Requirements.
• 5. Pre authentication by a .aero Partner Association.
• 6. Application to the .aero Office

• 7. Spelling conventions and other restrictions.
• 8. Domain allocation rules
• 9. Industry Codes
• 10. Unregulated name on SLD
• 11. Allocated sub domains.
• 12. Special Industry Names

• 13. Licence period and renewals.
• 14. Continuing eligibility.
• 15. Domain name licence transfer
• 16. Revoking a domain name licence.

• 17. ERP.
• 18. CEDRP.
• 19. UDRP.
• 20. Other disputes

• 21. Warranties
• 22. Definitions Appendix.
• 23. Terms of partnerships with Representative Bodies
• 24. Terms of partnerships with .aero Partner Associations.
• 25. Requirements for submitting an application to receive an Aviation Community Membership ID
• 26. List of Reserved names

I. General principles

Aviation community and the role of SITA

The .aero domain is a sponsored Top Level Domain ("TLD") established by and for the use of the members of the aviation community. SITA, the Sponsor of the .aero domain, is a not for profit cooperative that has been representing the aviation community for more than fifty years. SITA's role is to manage the .aero domain in the interests of the aviation community. SITA will, with the advice of relevant government and industry representative bodies, develop, maintain and enforce this .aero domain management policy.

This policy is intended to be updated and revised regularly to reflect aviation industry interests. The current version of this policy is publicly available on the following web sites: www.information.aero and www.nic.aero. Comments submitted through those web sites will be considered for updates of this document.

The .aero TLD is restricted to people, entities and government agencies which: (1) provide for and support the efficient, safe, and secure transport of people and cargo by air; and (2) facilitate or perform the necessary transactions to transport people and cargo by air.

Policy structure

The .aero domain is structured to provide for the allocation of domain names within specific Domain Types to specific Registrants within Registrant Groups. Each Registrant Group represents a sector of the aviation community. SITA, working with representative aviation community associations and organizations, defines the domain naming conventions which will ensure consistency, fair allocation and predictability of the .aero domain. The introduction of the .aero TLD will be staged as set out in the deployment calendar set out in this policy.

This policy defines the rules of eligibility and .aero domain name allocation for each Registrant Group. It also sets out the license terms and described the dispute resolution procedures for the .aero TLD. Registrant Groups & Representative Bodies Registrants are grouped according to similar characteristics in Registrant Groups which represent aviation industry segments. For each Registrant Group this policy defines eligibility criteria.

A Representative Body is appointed by SITA to represent each Registrant Group. They contribute to the development of this policy by expressing recommendations on rules and mechanisms of determining eligibility, domain applicability, and the schedule of deployment. In particular they contribute to the definition of the naming convention and the .aero domain name allocation within the Registrant Group that they represent. Terms of the arrangements with Representative Bodies are summarized in the appendices.
 

Registrant Group	Representative body
Aerial works	SITA (acting)
Aerospace	SITA (acting)
Air freight & logistics companies	SITA (acting)
Air navigation services providers	CANSO
Air safety, medical and certification	SITA (acting)
Air sports	FAI
Airlines and commercial operators	IATA
Airports	ACI
Aviation distribution systems	SITA
Aviation education and research	SITA (acting)
Aviation industry associations	SITA
Aviation media	SITA (acting)
Aviation professionals	SITA (acting)
Aviation suppliers & service providers	SITA (acting)
Business aircraft operators	NBAA
Civil aviation authorities	ICAO
Government organisations linked to aviation	SITA (acting)
Pilots	SITA (acting)
Recreational aviation	SITA (acting)

 
Explanation of acronyms of industry associations as well as contact details are available here: http://www.information.aero/recognizedassociations.php

Registration process

After Registration, the holder of a .aero domain name must comply with the licence rules (see Chapter "Licence Rules").

• Step 1- Identification
  Before a Registrant can submit a first application for a .aero domain name, the Registrant must be recognized as member of the aviation community. This eligibility check can be performed by various mechanisms (described in section "Eligibility" of this document) and is concluded by the assignment of an "Aviation Community Membership ID". Once a Registrant has obtained an Aviation Community Membership ID, the Registrant is entitled to register any names currently open for the Registrant Group the Registrant belongs to. This step needs to be performed only once by each Registrant.
• Step 2 - Registration
  Once the Registrant is ready to proceed with the registration of a .aero domain name, the Registrant must choose a Registrar (distributor of .aero domains) to obtain a .aero domain name licence and pay the registration fee. Some domain names are pre-allocated while some need to be requested directly by the Registrant at the time of Registration. The Aviation Community Membership ID can be reused for multiple registrations by the same Registrant.

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility requirements

Once its eligibility is established, the Registrant will receive an Aviation Community Membership ID (via mail, email or fax) that it will use to identify itself when registering a .aero domain name. SITA and the .aero Representative Bodies are designing and putting in place various mechanisms to perform this identification and eligibility process.

A Registrant may currently choose among the following mechanisms:

• Being designated by a .aero Partner Association of which the Registrant is a member (see pre-authentication by .aero Partner Association); or
• Applying to the .aero Office through a Registrar or an online application process.

Pre-authentication by a .aero Partner Association

The association will either

• provide the list of such nominees to SITA, classified into their appropriate registrant groups. The Registrant will receive their Aviation Community Membership ID directly from their .aero partner association (or upon request); or
• provide data for the purpose of verification when required by SITA. The Registrant will receive its Aviation Community Membership ID through a Registrar.

The table below lists the organisations and associations that have agreed to become .aero Partner Associations:
 

Registrant Group	.aero partner associations
Airlines and commercial operators	IATA, SITA
Business aircraft operators	NBAA
Airports	ACI
Aviation industry associations	SITA
Civil aviation authorities	ICAO
Aerospace	GAMA, NAG
Air freight & logistics companies
Air navigation services providers	CANSO
Air safety, medical and certification
Aviation distribution systems	SITA
Aviation education and research
Aviation media
Government organisations linked to aviation
Pilots
Aerial works
Air sports	FAI
Aviation professionals
Aviation suppliers & service providers	ACI, NBAA, IATA
Recreational aviation

 
Explanation of acronyms of industry associations as well as contact details are available here: http://www.information.aero/recognizedassociations.php

Application to the .aero Office

• Any Registrant can request an Aviation Community Membership ID from the .aero Office. The application is submitted through a Registrar.
• To receive an Aviation Community Membership ID, the Registrant is required to establish to the .aero Office that the Registrant is a member of a Registrant Group and (if applicable) pay a request processing fee. When submitting a request, the Registrant is required to
  • provide information regarding the Registrant's identity;
  • select the Registrant Group to which the Registrant belongs; identify and provide the relevant credentials for that Registrant Group, as detailed in the Appendix, section 28. All documents sent to the .aero Office need to be translated into English or French.
• By submitting the application, the Registrant:
  • Warrants that it is a member of the aviation community and meets the eligibility requirements set out in this Policy;
  • Agrees to the terms set out in this Policy, including the Eligibility Reconsideration Policy;
  • Declares that it has the relevant credentials as described in the Appendix, section 28.
  • Declares that the information provided in the application is complete and correct;
  • Acknowledges that the issue of the Aviation Community Membership ID is subject to verification and audit by SITA and agrees that when required by SITA, it will supply supporting documents to allow SITA to verify the credentials and other information in the application;
• The .aero Office can request additional information from the Registrant including by way of example the latest annual report of the company, evidence of a registration of the company, a certificate from a relevant civil aviation authority, or request a confirmation from a relevant industry authority or association that the Registrant is a member of the Registrant Group selected.
• The Eligibility Reconsideration Policy applies for resolving any dispute with regard to any decision by the .aero Office.

Domain allocation rules

Spelling conventions and other restrictions

• be at least 3 characters and no more than 63 characters long (except airline industry codes as described in "Industry Codes" )
• in the case of an allocated sub-domain (i.e. domain name on the 3rd level or higher) be at least 2 characters and no more than 63 characters long e.g. CC.CAA.AERO
• not contain a hyphen on the 3rd and 4th position (tagged domains)
• contain only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens or a combination of these
• start and end with an alphanumeric character, not a hyphen

Reserved names

• Country names:

  Country names cannot be registered as second level domain names, unless expressly provided for in this policy.

• Provisions for future development

  Registration of certain types of domain names may be restricted to protect a particular part of the name space for future development of predictive addressing schemes.

  Currently it is not possible to register domain names in the notation AANNNN.AERO or AAA- AAA.AERO, where A is a letter and N is a number.

Domain allocation rules

Applicable domain types

Industry Codes

Airlines and commercial operators:

Format: IATA 2 character airline designator.aero (xx.aero)

Eligibility : The Registrant will require allocation by IATA. The Registrant will be a unique holder of the domain. Controlled duplicates will not be available.

Revocation : The domain name will be revoked if the corresponding 2 character airline designator is revoked by IATA

Other requirements: The Registrant is required to use the domain name in compliance with IATA RP 1874.

Unregulated name on SLD

Eligibility

Allocation

Allocated sub domains

Special Industry Names

Allocation

• the name is allocated to a .aero representative body for its own use;
• the right is given to a .aero representtaive body to allocate the name;
• the name is allocated on the basis of a proposal submitted to the Sponsor.

Registration

Licence Rules

Licence period and renewals

Continuing eligibility

Domain name licence transfer

Revoking a domain name licence

• Change in status: If the Registrant ceases to be a member of the Registrant Group to which their .aero domain name is associated
• Fee not paid: If the prescribed fee is not paid within the required time
• Breach of warranty: If a warranty supplied by the Registrant or their agent is breached
• Incorrect information: If misleading, incomplete or incorrect information is supplied in the application
• Failure to comply with this policy: If the Registrant fails to comply with this policy.
• Court decision: If a court of competent authority determines that the .aero domain name should not be licensed to the Registrant, be removed from the registry or be licensed to another person.
• Improper use: If the .aero domain name, or the use of the .aero domain name, is not in the best interests of the aviation community.
• Instruction: If instructed by the Registrant
• Error If a .aero domain name which could not otherwise be registered under this policy is registered through mistake.

Dispute Resolution Policies

ERP

Full text of the ERP is located at the following address: http://www.information.aero/policy/erp.htm

CEDRP

Full text of the CEDRP is located at the following address: http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/sponsored/sponsorship-agmt-att12-13oct01.htm

UDRP

Full text of the UDRP is located at the following address: http://www.icann.org/dndr/udrp/policy.htm

Other disputes

The originator of the dispute sends notice of the dispute in writing to the Sponsor. The originator, the Sponsor and any third parties must attempt to settle the dispute by negotiation. If the above attempts fail to settle the dispute, the parties agree to refer the dispute to arbitration and all parties must agree to be bound by the ruling of the arbitrator. The arbitral tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator. The place of arbitration will be Geneva, Switzerland. The dispute shall be decided in accordance with the law of Switzerland.

Verification of eligibility and domain name registrations

If a Registrant is selected for verification, then it may be asked to provide supporting information demonstrating that it meets the eligibility requirements set at this Policy or that the .aero domain name complies with this Policy.

If the Registrant fails to co-operate with a request or fails to co-operate within a reasonable time period, then the Sponsor may cancel the Aviation Community Membership ID and revoke the licence for the .aero domain names registered by that Registrant.

If a domain name registered as a registered entity name or trademark has become available for registration following the cancellation by Sponsor for non compliance with the domain allocation rules, then for this name the domain allocation rules valid at the time of the original registration will be in force for this domain name for another 30 days.

Warranties and definitions

Warranties

By applying for a .aero domain name, the Registrant:

• warrants that the Registrant meets the eligibility requirements set at this Policy;
• warrants that the domain name complies with this policy;
• warrants that the information provided by the Registrant is complete, true and correct;
• warrants that the registration and use of the .aero domain name does not breach any third party's rights (such as those of a registered trademark holder);
• warrants that they have read and understood this policy and proceed on the basis that this policy is legally binding; and indemnifies the Sponsor to the full extent legally permitted against all claims and demands from third parties regarding registration and use of the .aero domain name.

Definitions

• ".aero Office" refers to the Eligibility and Name Selection Services Organization responsible for (a) application of policies concerning eligibility of persons or entities to receive new or renewal registrations of Registered Names and (b) application of policies concerning selection of Registered Names to be registered to particular persons or entities.
• "Registrant" is the applicant for or holder of a Registered Name.
• "Registrar" is an entity or person accredited by ICANN and appointed by Sponsor to act as a registrar for domain names within the .aero domain.
• "SITA" means Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques, a Belgian co-operative corporation.

Appendix

Terms of partnerships with Representative Bodies

Terms of partnerships with .aero Partner Associations

Requirements for submitting an application to receive an Aviation Community Membership ID

• "Registrant Group" refers to the Group of which Registrant is a member
• "Credentials type" refers to the type of credentials the Registrant possesses and will provides to .aero office when required
• "Credentials value" refers to a value related to the credentials type.
• "Fax/mail with application" indicates what documents (if any) must to be submitted by way of mail or fax to .aero Office together with the application. If the field is empty, no document is required to be faxed or mailed at the time the application is submitted. The .aero Office can however request the document in the course of verification of the application.
• Each registrant group includes a credential type "Other". This is to open a possibility for registration to Registrant who do not possess any credentials defined in this document but are members of a particular Registrant Group.

List of Reserved names