Flight Standards and Airworthiness

The Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division (FSAD) is responsible for the grant of Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and the monitoring of all AOC holders to ensure their compliance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on flight safety and airworthiness.

Other functions of the division include the issue of flight crew and aircraft maintenance licences, monitoring of airworthiness and maintenance standards of aircraft registered in Hong Kong, inspection of aircraft maintenance organisations, supervision of light aircraft and helicopter operations, and safety oversight of foreign airline operators at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Flight Standards Office

Issue of AOC

As of 31 March 2019, there were nine Hong Kong AOC holders, namely:

AHK Air Hong Kong Limited

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong Air Cargo Carrier Limited

Hong Kong Airlines Limited

Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited

Hong Kong Express Airways Limited

Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited

TAG Aviation Asia Limited

The safety performance and operating standards of Hong Kong AOC holders are monitored through a comprehensive programme of inspections and audits. During the year, in addition to 125 flight operations and cabin safety inspections, the Inspectorate staff of the Flight Standards Office conducted 336 inspections on the other aspects of AOC holders, including their stations, ramps, operational records, training arrangements and assessment of authorised examiners/approved persons. A total of 35 flight simulators located worldwide and in Hong Kong and used by local airlines were evaluated and approved for use. The division was also tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the non-specialised operations of the Government Flying Service's (GFS) helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Safety Oversight

FSAD continued to implement the surveillance programme for the safety oversight of Hong Kong AOC holders. The key purpose of the programme is to apply a risk management approach to the schedule and coordination of inspection activities.

A total of 773 Mandatory Occurrence Reports (MORs) were received from the industry during the year. Through close liaison with airline operators, maintenance organisations, aerodrome operator and air traffic service provider, all the MORs were investigated with the aim of enhancing aviation safety and preventing recurrence.

A Safety Officer of Flight Standards Office conducts routine cabin safety inspection.

A Flight Operations Inspector of Flight Standards Office conducts an inspection on flight operation.

Airworthiness Office

The Airworthiness Office monitors the maintenance and airworthiness standards of all Hong Kong registered aircraft. With a team of experienced Airworthiness Officers, the office carries out regular AOC line station audits, approved maintenance and design/production organisation audits, and aircraft surveys locally in Hong Kong as well as in cities in the Mainland, India, Middle East, other parts of Asia, Europe and the United States, for continual monitoring of AOC holders, approval of maintenance and design/production organisations and issue of Certificates of Airworthiness for Hong Kong registered aircraft.

Aircraft Maintenance

The Airworthiness Office continued to monitor all Hong Kong approved aircraft and aircraft component maintenance organisations regularly through hangar surveys, company audits and product audits. As of 31 March 2019, there were 33 Hong Kong approved maintenance organisations. Major maintenance companies, including Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO), Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited, and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, are regulated through rolling audits and regular visits.

Aircraft Maintenance Training

As of 31 March 2019, there were five HKAR-147 Aircraft Maintenance Training Organisations located in Hong Kong and the Mainland approved to provide basic and specific aircraft type training for the maintenance of Hong Kong registered aircraft.

Design and Production of Aircraft and Related Products/Parts

As of 31 March 2019, a total of 12 HKAR-21 Design and Production Organisations were approved to provide certification of aircraft related products/parts including their design and production.

CAD Designated Organisations

As of 31 March 2019, there were eight HKAR-183 Organisations approved to carry out airworthiness related activities in support of the issue of Certificates of Airworthiness to aircraft.

Airworthiness Office Statistics

(Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019)

Personnel Licensing Office

Flight Crew Licensing

During 2018-19, the Personnel Licensing Office (PELO) processed 3 514 applications, including initial grant and renewal of flight crew licences, aircraft and instrument ratings, language proficiency endorsements and conversion of foreign flight crew licences into Hong Kong licences. To meet industry demand for conducting overseas flight crew training and examinations, the CAD approved flying training organisations based in Australia and New Zealand respectively. During the year, PELO and the authorised examination centres in Australia and New Zealand processed 5 316 CAD flight crew licensing written examinations. In addition, 5 608 medical certificates were issued to holders/applicants of Hong Kong flight crew licence or air traffic controller's licence.

Licensing examination is conducted under the invigilation of Personnel Licensing Office.

Aircraft Maintenance Licensing

As of 31 March 2019, PELO processed 1 595 applications for initial issue and renewal of aircraft maintenance licences, and endorsement of additional aircraft types in such licences. During the report period, 2 901 examination papers regarding aircraft maintenance licensing were processed by PELO and the authorised examination centre at HAECO in Tseung Kwan O and Xiamen.

Coordination with Local Airspace Users

To promote flight safety, the Hong Kong Sector Flight Safety Committee comprising local airspace users continued to meet regularly to coordinate safety issues in the local airspace. These local airspace users include fixed wing operators and rotary wing operators (GFS, Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited, Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited and Hong Kong Aviation Club), Hong Kong Paragliding Association and private aircraft owners.

Aircraft Register

During the year, 24 aircraft were put on the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register. In the same period, three Boeing B777, one Boeing B747, one Airbus A320, one Airbus A321, one Airbus A330, two Gulfstream G450, one Gulfstream G550, one Gulstream GV, and one BAE 4100 were removed from the Register. As of 31 March 2019, the total number of civil aircraft in the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register was 347, of which 307 were registered under Hong Kong AOC holders and the GFS as follows:

Continuous Training for Inspecting Staff

To keep the technical knowledge and competence of inspecting officers in pace with the latest aviation development, the division arranged a wide spectrum of training for them on flight operations and airworthiness. These included training in the design and maintenance of specific types of aircraft and materials, simulator evaluation, operational approvals, auditing techniques as well as safety management. In addition, the officers participated in international and regional conferences, seminars and working group meetings to exchange and share experiences and best practices with international experts. These events included ICAO Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness – North Asia Programme Steering Committee Meeting, Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team Meeting, ICAO Airworthiness Panel Meeting, International Maintenance Review Board Policy Board Meeting, Joint Maintenance Management Steering Committee Meeting, Joint Certification Management Steering Committee Meeting, C919 Maintenance Review Board/Industry Steering Committee Meeting, Safety Management International Collaboration Group Meeting and meetings with various aviation authorities.

Witnessed by the Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr Li Jian (back row, left), and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan (back row, right), the Director General of the CAAC's Department of Aircraft Airworthiness Certification, Mr Xu Chaoqun (front row, centre); the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Simon Li (front row, left); and the President of the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao (AACM), Mr Chan Weng-hong (front row, right), representing the CAAC, the CAD and the AACM respectively, signed a Co-operative Arrangement on Operational Evaluation of C919 Aircraft and a Memorandum of Understanding on Closer Co-operation on Type Certification in May 2018.

The CAD organised a Flight Operations/Safety Forum for Hong Kong air operators at CAD Headquarters to promote and enhance flight safety.