Due to the circumstances caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, Switzerland has declared the ‘extraordinary situation’. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation needs to take and to communicate very short-term decisions affecting pilots, training organisations and the aviation operators.
FOCA will provide information exclusively through this channel. This page will be regularly updated.
Since 27 April 2020, aeromedical examinations are possible again.
Until 11 May 2020, flight schools can apply to the competent cantonal authorities for an exemption for training.
From 11 May 2020 onwards, flight schools will once again be allowed to plan and conduct presence training (flight instructions as well as theory lessons) with up to 5 people (including instructors). However, they must have compiled and implemented a protection concept to do so. These protection concepts are examined by the competent cantonal authorities (different approaches). As a rule, the minimum distance of 2 metres must be observed during lessons in school premises. As this requirement is difficult to adhere to in the cockpit or simulator, alternative mitigation measures (e.g. protective masks) must be adopted. Surfaces must be disinfected in the best possible way before each change of person.
In general, the requirements of the FOPH and the individual cantons must be observed.
Presence learning events at training facilities are prohibited until 10 May 2020 (Art.5). In cases where there is a predominate public interest, cantonal authorities may grant exemptions according to Art. 7.
From 11 May 2020 the Federal COVID-19 Ordinance 2 will be amended as follows:
1 Presence-training will be allowed again starting from 11 May 2020. A maximum of five people may be present.
2 For permissible training events, the FOPH's recommendations concerning hygiene and social distance apply. Article 5 paragraph 2, as well as Article 6a of the «COVID-19 Ordinance 2» are to be observed as close as possible.
3 Examinations can be carried out if the FOPH's recommendations concerning hygiene and social distance as well as Article 5 paragraph 2 and Article 6a of the «COVID-19 Ordinance 2» are observed.
4 The implementation of the protection concepts are monitored by the competent cantonal authority.
From 27 April 2020, as a first step, the Federal Council will relax certain measures. In particular, medical practices with outpatient treatment can resume normal operations and can carry out all interventions, including non-urgent ones. This, in order to prevent negative consequences that could result from not having treatment and examinations. Therefore, medical fitness examinations of flying personnel and air traffic controllers will be possible again. The medical experts (AMEs) were informed directly by FOCA regarding the process and procedure.
In all other areas (e.g. restrictions regarding training, association activities, etc.) of Ordinance 2 of 13 March 2020 on measures to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19 Ordinance 2), no fundamental changes have been communicated at present, and the currently valid restrictions remain in place. The responsibility for approving exceptions and the necessary health protection concepts lies with the cantonal authorities.
Due to the measures taken to contain Covid-19, no theory exams, radiotelephone exams, and language proficiency exams will take place in our training centres until 7 June 2020. Applications for theory exams, which happen to fall on a cancelled date, do not need to be submitted again. The application will be automatically transferred to the next exam date. If needed, new exam dates will be added.
The 18 months period to complete theory exams according to FCL.025(b)(2) will be extend by the duration during which no exams will take place. The time limit during which the practical exam has to take place after the successful completion of the theoretical exam according to FCL.025(c)(1), as well as the recommendation for the theoretical exam according to FCL.025(a)(3), will be extended to 19 November 2020 with immediate effect.
Existing language proficiency entries will be extended to 19 November 2020. Licence holders whose language proficiency entries will expire before 19 November 2020 are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA» or «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry it together with their licence. As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
The airworthiness review certificate (hereinafter referred to as 'ARC') shall be issued in accordance with point M.A.901(a), Annex I (Part-M) of Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 or, if applicable, point ML.A.901(a), Annex Vb (Part-ML) of Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 after completion of a satisfactory airworthiness review. The ARC has a validity period of one year. The validity of the certificate may be extended twice for a period of one year each time, when the aircraft has remained within a controlled environment.
As a result of the mobility restrictions imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and other restrictions, currently it is often no longer possible for aviation stakeholders to complete the legally required inspections on time. Switzerland, in close cooperation with the other EASA states, has therefore sought an exemption allowing an additional extension of the airworthiness review certificate for aircraft within a controlled environment.
Under this exemption, the validity of the ARC of an aircraft registered in Switzerland can be extended by additional six months subject to the following conditions:
The organisation (CAMO or CAO) which manages the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft concerned must declare the application of the exemption and the existence of the above conditions to FOCA before the expiry of the validity of the ARC. The declaration must be submitted to FOCA together with a copy of the extension of the ARC. The declaration can take the form of an e-mail or letter accompanying the ARC and, as is customary with the copy of the ARC, can be submitted to the Swiss Aircraft Register aircraftregistry@bazl.admin.ch.
Depending on how the pandemic situation develops, the already extended periods of validity of an ARC can be extended by another six months, but at the latest until 19 November 2020. If the situation and the guidelines have normalised to the extent that ordinary extensions or issuance of ARC are possible again, the previously valid procedures must again be followed.
An example of the third extension of the ARC is given below.
A Part-66 license expires five years after being issued or its last endorsement. In order to renew a license the holder must submit an application for renewal to the FOCA. The FOCA must verify whether all information contained in the license corresponds with the applicants file in accordance with EASA Part-66 / 66.B.120 of the Commission Regulation (EU) Nr.1321/2014.
Due to the restrictions imposed by the government to inhibit the COVID-19 pandemic it may not be possible for all people involved in aircraft maintenance to fulfill the legal regulations for the renewal of their Part-66 license within the demanded timeframe.
For that reason, in close cooperation with all other EASA member states, Switzerland has put into force the possibility to temporarily extend the validity of an aircraft maintenance license without adhering to the regular legal regulations.
The validity of Part-66 licenses will be extended by four months but at most until November 19th 2020. The license holder must declare his intention to take advantage of the temporary deviation to the renewal process due to the unforeseen circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The declaration must be submitted using the EASA Form 19 (Rev.14) before expiry of the Part-66 license to the following email address: aml@bazl.admin.ch. The now granted extension periods can be prolonged depending on the development of the situation. Once the now imposed restrictions have been revoked due to an improvement of the current situation, the previously valid regulations come back into force.
The time period of 6 months according to FCL.725 (c) between the commencement of type rating training and the passing of a skill text, as well as between the skill test and the application for a type rating will be extended to 19 November 2020, provided the deadline expires between 13 March 2020 and 19 November 2020.
The time limit for the successful completion of the following training will be extended to 19 November 2020, provided the deadline expires between 13 March 2020 and 19 November 2020:
If you have liquidity problems and you have difficulties to pay FOCA's bills, you can contact us for a deferral of payment or send us the form to ask us to pay in installments. Details, contact and form are available on the page Invoicing and payment options.
Validity of dangerous goods training for all personnel categories
According to FOCA communication dated March 18th, 2020, all dangerous goods training certificates were extended until the end of July 2020.
In the meantime, (on March 21st, 2020) all training requirements for the personnel of operator and their service providers according to (EU) No 965/2012 Part-ORO and Part-SPA were extended by FOCA with immediate effect for 4 months (but no later than November 19th, 2020).
The same validity extension also applies to all personnel categories in accordance with ICAO Technical Regulations, Part 1, Chapter 4.
The following conditions apply:
1. Since March 21st, 2020 all dangerous goods training certificates (personnel categories 1 to 17, as well as categories A, B, and C for “Designated Postal Operators”) were extended by 4 months (but no later than November 19th, 2020). The renewal of the certificates is to be calculated based on the expiry date of the last certificate.
2. Mitigation measures: the employer must ensure that employees possess the necessary skills to carry out their work during the extension period. As a means of support, «briefings / leaflets / bulletins / online tools» can for example be used.
3. When applying this extraordinary extension, point 1 (e.g. with a remark in the training certificate) and point 2 (e.g. with “read and sign”) must be documented and be submitted during surveillance activities.
4. Should the current situation and the recommendations of the Federal Council normalise, the previously valid procedures will be applicable again.
5. These validity periods may be further extended by FOCA depending on the unfolding of the pandemic.
Dangerous goods training according Annex 18, ICAO TIs, Part 1, Chapter 4:
Due to the accelerated spread of the Corona virus and the restrictions imposed by the Federal Council certain training cannot be completed on schedule.
Under the circumstances FOCA has taken the following decision regarding the validity of training certificates for the transport of dangerous goods by air:
1. Aufgrund der aktuellen Lage wegen COVID-19 und basierend auf Regulation 1139/2018 (EU) Art. 71 Flexibility Provisions und der damit verbundenen Meldung an EASA gelten für Flugverkehrsleiter- und Fluginformationsdienst-Lizenzeinträge flexiblere Bedingungen.
2. Für die Erfüllung der Bedingungen zur Ausstellung von Lizenzen gelten zusätzliche 4 Monate. Diese Frist kann je nach Entwicklung der Pandemie-Lage vom BAZL um weitere 4 Monate erweitert werden, welche auf der Homepage des BAZL publiziert und den Organisationen aktiv mitgeteilt wird.
3. Betroffen von der Frist gemäss Ziffer 2 sind namentlich folgende Bereiche der Regulation (EU) 2015/340:
4. Anträge zur Ausstellung einer Lizenz sind weiterhin standardmässig auf den bekannten Wegen einzureichen.
Sofern die flexiblen Bedingungen gemäss Ziffer 1 und 2 genutzt werden sind diese für jeden betroffenen Lizenzeintrag einzeln aufzuführen und zusammen mit dem Antrag einzureichen.
5. Das BAZL stellt die Lizenzen weiterhin standardmässig auf den bekannten Wegen aus. Das BAZL vermerkt auf jeder einzelnen Lizenz für welche Bereiche gemäss Ziffer 3 die Flexibility Provisions angewendet wurden.
6. Die Ausbildungsorganisation stellt sicher, dass die Lizenzinhaber, welche von der Frist gemäss Ziffer 2 Gebrauch gemacht haben, die Bedingungen innerhalb dieser Frist erfüllen.
7. Für die Dauer dem vom Bundesrat erlassenen «ausserordentlichen Lage» gemäss Epidemien Gesetz gilt zusätzlich eine temporäre Reduktion der aktuell gültigen Currency Bestimmungen um 50%, sowie eine Flexibilisierung der Ausbildungsmethode für durchgeführte und bereits genehmigte Kurse, sowie für Auffrischungs- und Um-Schulungen.
8. Nach Ablauf der Fristen gemäss Ziffer 2 und veränderte Bestimmungen gemäss Ziffer 7 in Bezug auf die Lage sind die normalen Verfahren wieder einzuhalten.
Until further notice, the counter services for the aircraft registry and pilot licenses will remain closed similarly to the cantonal administration authorities. The services are reachable via phone or Email.
The following information is of interest to:
Personnel (pilots, aeromedical examiners, cabin crew, examiners and instructors), which are employed by an organisation with a management system (MS) in accordance with Part-ORO of Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012.
Due to the limited availability/accessibility of simulators, it can be difficult to complete the necessary recurrent training and checking.
Therefore, FOCA has notified EASA of an «Exemption» from the currently valid regulations:
With immediate effect, for pilots employed by an organisation with a management system in accordance with Part-ORO of Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012, the validity of all class ratings, type ratings, and instrument ratings will be extended by 4 months (at the latest until 19 November 2020).
Any training requirements according to Part-ORO and Part-SPA will also be extended by 4 months (at the latest until 19 November 2020) with immediate effect.
Depending on the unfolding of the pandemic, the date of validity may be further extended by FOCA.
Affected pilots will have to undergo a refresher training provided by their operator. The content of Part-FCL and Part-OPS, as well as the nature of the refresher training are described in document «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - Part-ORO». The operator either certifies the refresher training of a pilot in the annex of the attachment or in another analogue document.
Further details are stated in document «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - Part-ORO».
Licence holders are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry it together with their licence and a confirmation of the completion of their refresher training.
Once the current situation normalises to the effect that training and exams will be possible again, the licence holder has to complete a proper revalidation under previously valid procedures before the expiry of the extension.
It is imperative that in this case, in addition to the examination documents, the confirmation of the refresher training is also sent to FOCA.
Any application for a shortened period of validity of the proficiency check (to avoid an accumulation of identical expiration dates in subsequent years) must be requested and signed by the licence holder personally.
Recency provisions (Part FCL.060 of Regulation 1178/2011) will remain in force and must be ensured before any passenger operations.
The possibility described in Part-FCL.060(c)(1) to obtain recency within a CAT operation by a cross-country flight with an instructor or examiner will be extended from 120 days to 180 days. This facilitation was subsequently achieved. Although it only concerns pilots employed by operators, the basis for this facilitation can be found in the exemption for the GA («FOCA CH - Exemption Covid-19 GA - Art 71(1) new BR - 27.03.2020»).
Further possibilities for flight operators to submit an exemption are listed under the corresponding entry on this information page. This option is a possibility - under certain conditions - for operation of aircraft in the "multi-pilot-concept" for operators with a management system according to Part-ORO of Regulation 965/2012 exists.
(see above: «21.04.2020 – Difficulties with «Recency» required under FCL.060 - New information for operation in «multi-pilot-operations»»)
Because of the coronavirus crisis, the number of operated flights was drastically reduced. It can therefore be assumed that there will be difficulties for some operators to meet the requirements of FCL.060 of EU Regulation 1178/2011. For pilots of commercial flight operations, there is already the possibility of an initial alleviation from the currently valid regulations under FCL.060. The corresponding exemption «FOCA CH - Exemption Covid-19 – GA – Art.71(1) new BR – 27.03.2020 (1)», point (e) was submitted from Switzerland to EASA. (The possibility described in Part-FCL.060 (c) (1) to obtain recency within a CAT operation via a cross-country flight with an instructor or an examiner will be extended from 120 days to 180 days)
Under certain conditions, further facilitations for multi-pilot operations should be enabled. These further facilitations are very different for the various operators due to the miscellaneous needs, possibilities and initial situations. Therefore, FOCA will not apply for a general exemption. Instead, the affected operators must prepare one and submit their request for an exemption to FOCA as follows:
a) For all pilots employed by a flight operator with a Swiss AOC or for pilots employed by a flight operator, which is declared in Switzerland with a Management System (MS) in accordance with Part-ORO of Regulation 965/2012, the corresponding operator can apply for an exemption. It will be valid for all licence holders with an EASA licence (according to Part-FCL) of the corresponding operator, i.e. also for those licence holders with a licence not issued by Switzerland.
b) Pilots with a licence issued by FOCA, and who are employed by a flight operator with other than a Swiss AOC may apply for an exemption via their employer (AOC holder) and its competent national authority
c) Pilots with a licence issued by FOCA, and who are employed by a flight operator not declared in an EASA Member State may apply for an exemption via the FOCA section “Flight Personnel”.
EASA has produced an information document stating the possibilities of a deviation viewed as being reasonable if certain mitigation measures are observed, in order to meet the requirements for an exemption according to the EU Basic Regulation (EU 1139/2018, Art. 71(1)): «EASA Guidelines for Exemptions in regard of Flight Crew Recency (PDF, 689 kB, 21.04.2020)». We recommend using these guidelines as a sample for preparing an exemption.
In contrast to the EASA document (sections 1 and 2), FOCA considers it possible to make use of the means of an exemption for all operators who have a MS according to Part-ORO of Regulation 965/2012 (e.g. declared NCC operators) operating aircraft in "multi-pilot concept".
For each application, it must be shown in particular that:
The applications must be submitted as follows:
For cases under a):
For cases under c), please send to pel-inspector@bazl.admin.ch
In a first step, licences, ratings and medical fitness certificates («Medicals») can be extended for 4 months under the conditions specified in the attachment.
Should it emerge that the 4-month extension period granted for licences, ratings and medical certificates is not sufficient for a regular revalidation, a further extension until 19 November 2020 at the latest is enabled by FOCA for licence holders flying in an operation under Part-ORO.
The specifications in the adapted attachment must be complied with and the corresponding evidence has to be carried.
Therefore, the attachment and the enclosed annex were supplemented by FOCA on 03 April 2020.
Similar extension options are available for specific training under Part-ORO and Part-SPA.
Details of the adapted regulations can be found in «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates – Part-ORO».
(Art.: 1)a)(3), 1)a)(4), 1)b)(2), 1)b)(5), 2)a), 2)b)(d), 3), 5) and Annex I)
Existing language proficiency entries will be extended to 19 November 2020. Licence holders whose language proficiency entries will expire before 19 November 2020 are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry it together with their licence. As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
All medical fitness certificates «Medical» which were valid until at least 13 March 2020 will be extended with the submitted FOCA Exemption with immediate effect by 4 months (but at the latest until 19 November 2020). The validity periods may be extended by FOCA for further months depending on how the pandemic situation unfolds. The holders of «Medicals» are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA» or «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry it together with their «Medical». As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This exemption requires a still valid «Medical», which does not include other requirements than VDL, VNL, and VML. Holders of «Medical» with other or further ranging stipulations do not qualify for this exemption. Once the current situation normalises a regular medical examination must be carried out in accordance with the applicable procedures before the extended period of validity expires.
All valid instructors ’authorisations and examiners’ authorisations for the personnel mentioned under «pilots and licences» will be extended to 19 November 2020. This also applies to AME.
Instructors and examiners are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry with their licence. As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
With immediate effect, after departing from areas with high risk transmission of COVID-19 all aircraft for the commercial air transport of passengers must be cleaned after each flight and completely disinfected using an agent suitable for aviation purposes.
Airports situated in areas with high risk of transmission of COVID-19 are listed in Annex 1 of the EASA Directive 2020-01. Furthermore, aircraft used for the commercial air transport of passengers must be equipped with one or more boxes of personal protective gear (Universal Precaution Kits).
In this regard, FOCA has issued an order to all holders of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. The FOCA Operational Directive OD 2020-01 «Measures to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2» dated 24 March 2020 forms an integral part of the present order and regulates the details of the arrangement.
The following information is of interest to:
Pilots, which are not employed by an organisation with a management system (MS) in accordance with Part-ORO of Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012.
These are mainly pilots of GA, (except pilots of NCC aircraft declared in Switzerland). These operate under a MS according to Part-ORO and follow the instructions in the corresponding section of this page.
Due to the limited availability/accessibility of simulators, it can be difficult to complete the necessary recurrent training and checking.
Therefore, FOCA has notified EASA of an «Exemption» from the currently valid regulations:
With immediate effect, for pilots, who are not employed by an organisation with a management system in accordance with Part-ORO of Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012, the validity of all class ratings, type ratings, and instrument ratings, as well as mountain ratings will be extended by 4 months (at the latest until 19 November 2020).
Depending on the unfolding of the pandemic, the date of validity may be further extended by FOCA.
Affected pilots must complete a briefing conducted by an instructor. The contents of this briefing are described in the document «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA». This briefing can also be held over the phone, by on-screen conversation, as CBT or by means of a leaflet. The instructor either certifies the refresher training of a pilot in the annex of the attachment, in another analogue document, or by e-mail.
Further details are stated in the document «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - GA».
Licence holders are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - GA» and to carry it together with their licence and a confirmation of the completion of their briefing.
Once the current situation normalises to the effect that training and exams will be possible again, the licence holder has to complete a proper revalidation under previously valid procedures before the expiry of the extension.
It is imperative that in this case, in addition to the examination documents, the confirmation of the briefing is also sent to FOCA.
Recency provisions (Part FCL.060 of Regulation 1178/2011) will remain in force and must be ensured before any passenger operations.
Exception: According to FCL.060 (a) the recency requirements for pilots of balloons must be fulfilled within the last 300 days (instead of 180 days).
For authorisations, which are maintained by means of recency provisions (applies to both Part-SFCL and Part-BFCL from 08 April 2020), the period for fulfilling the recency requirement is extended as follows:
The pilots concerned must complete a briefing conducted by an instructor. The contents of this briefing are described in the document «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA». This briefing can be held over the phone, by on-screen conversation, as CBT or by means of a leaflet. The instructor either certifies the refresher training of a pilot in the annex of the attachment, in another analogue document, or by e-mail.
Licence holders are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - GA» and to carry it together with their recency and a confirmation of the completion of their briefing.
In a first step, medical fitness certificates («Medicals») can be extended for 4 months under the conditions specified in the attachment.
It is now becoming apparent that towards the end of this first extension period, resource issues for aero-medical examiners are likely to arise for a regular revalidation. This circumstance will be taken into account with an adjustment of the regulation.
Should it become clear towards the end of a first extension that a timely, regular revalidation is not possible, and this is confirmed by the aero-medical examiner, with this new addition, the extension period can be extended until 19 November 2020. A corresponding format template is provided in EMPIC-MED for AMEs.
The specifications in the adapted attachment must be complied with and the corresponding evidence has to be carried.
Details of the adapted regulations can be found in «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates – GA».
(Art.: 1)(b), 2)(6), 3), and 4))
Existing language proficiency entries will be extended to 19 November 2020. Licence holders whose language proficiency entries will expire before 19 November 2020 are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA» and to carry it together with their licence. As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
All medical fitness certificates «Medical» which were valid until at least 13 March 2020 will be extended with the submitted FOCA Exemption with immediate effect by 4 months (but at the latest until 19 November 2020). The validity periods may be extended by FOCA for further months depending on how the pandemic situation unfolds. The holders of «Medicals» are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - GA» or «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED certificates - Part-ORO» and to carry it together with their «Medical». As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This exemption requires a still valid «Medical», which does not include other requirements than VDL, VNL, and VML. Holders of «Medical» with other or further ranging stipulations do not qualify for this exemption. Once the current situation normalises a regular medical examination must be carried out in accordance with the applicable procedures before the extended period of validity expires.
All valid instructors’ authorisations and examiners’ authorisations for the personnel mentioned under «pilots and licences» will be extended to 19 November 2020. This also applies to AME.
Instructors and examiners are requested to print out the enclosed «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - GA» and to carry with their licence. As no briefing/training is intended for this extension, the annex does not need to be completed and to be carried.
In the area of General Aviation, instructors are invited to provide a specified briefing according to «FOCA CH - Exemption Covid-19 - GA - Art 71(1) new BR - 27.03.2020» to inquiring licence holders.
The briefing shall refresh the required level of theoretical knowledge to safely operate the applicable class or type and to safely carry out the relevant manoeuvres and procedures, as applicable. That briefing shall include class - or type-specific abnormal and emergency procedures, as appropriate.
This briefing can be held over the phone, by on-screen conversation, as CBT or by means of a leaflet. The instructor either certifies the refresher training of a pilot in the annex of «Attachment to Part-FCL Licences and Part-MED Certificates - GA», in another analogue document, or by e-mail. The respective billing to the licence holder is at the discretion of the instructor.
Last modification 05.05.2020
