diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_shipcall.py b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_shipcall.py
index eb5efd0..47f8c69 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_shipcall.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_shipcall.py
@@ -548,12 +548,16 @@ class InputValidationShipcall():
             assigned_agency = get_assigned_participant_of_type(shipcall_id, participant_type=ParticipantType.AGENCY)
             assigned_pilot = get_assigned_participant_of_type(shipcall_id, participant_type=ParticipantType.PILOT)
             an_agency_is_assigned = True if assigned_agency is not None else False
+            a_pilot_is_assigned = True if assigned_pilot is not None else False
 
         else:
             # Agency assigned? User must belong to the assigned agency or be a BSMD user, in case the flag is set
             assigned_agency = [spm for spm in shipcall_participant_map if int(spm.type) == int(ParticipantType.AGENCY)]
             assigned_pilot = [spm for spm in shipcall_participant_map if int(spm.type) == int(ParticipantType.PILOT)]
             an_agency_is_assigned = len(assigned_agency)==1
+            a_pilot_is_assigned = len(assigned_pilot)==1
+            if a_pilot_is_assigned:
+                assigned_pilot = assigned_pilot[0]
 
             if len(assigned_agency)>1:
                 raise ValidationError({"internal_error":f"Internal error? Found more than one assigned agency for the shipcall with ID {shipcall_id}. Found: {assigned_agency}"})
@@ -569,7 +573,7 @@ class InputValidationShipcall():
             ### USER authority ###
             # determine, whether the user is a) the assigned agency or b) a BSMD participant
             user_is_assigned_agency = (user_participant_id == assigned_agency.id)
-            user_is_assigned_pilot = (user_participant_id == assigned_pilot.id)
+            user_is_assigned_pilot = a_pilot_is_assigned and (user_participant_id == assigned_pilot.id)
 
             # when the BSMD flag is set: the user must be either BSMD or the assigned agency
             # when the BSMD flag is not set: the user must be the assigned agency