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 2021, there were seven 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 Express Airways Limited

Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited

The CAD presented the revised Air Operator's Certificate to Cathay Pacific Airways for the introduction of A320 and A321 aircraft.

Safety Oversight

The safety performance and operating standards of Hong Kong AOC holders are monitored under the risk management principle through a comprehensive surveillance programme by means of inspections and audits. Despite the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the inspectorate staff of the Flight Standards Office carried out 20 flight operations and cabin safety inspections during the year. They also conducted 160 compliance inspections on the other operational aspects of the AOC holders, including ramp inspections, operational records inspection, assessment of training courses, and routine monitoring of Authorised Examiners/Approved Person. In addition, a total of 19 flight simulators, located worldwide and in Hong Kong, were evaluated and approved for use by local airlines. 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.

Airworthiness Office

The Airworthiness Office (AWO) 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 and in cities in the Mainland, India, Middle East, other parts of Asia, Europe and the United States, for continual monitoring of the AOC holders, approval of maintenance and design/production organisations and issue of Certificates of Airworthiness for Hong Kong registered aircraft.

CAD officers inspected cargo carriage in passenger cabin of the first modified CPA Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Aircraft Maintenance

The AWO 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 2021, 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 continuous audits and regular visits.

Aircraft Maintenance Training

As of 31 March 2021, there were six 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 2021, a total of 11 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 2021, there were seven 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 2020 and 31 March 2021)

Personnel Licensing Office

Flight Crew Licensing

During 2020-21, the Personnel Licensing Office (PELO) processed 1 795 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 flight crew examinations in non-CAD premises, the CAD authorised operators’ in-house and overseas examination centres for pilots and cadets under training at approved training organisations respectively. During the year, PELO and the authorised examination centres processed 1 779 flight crew licensing written examinations. In addition, 4 524 medical certificates were issued to holders/applicants of Hong Kong flight crew licences or air traffic controller's licences.

Electronic devices used in flight crew licensing examinations.

Aircraft Maintenance Licensing

As of 31 March 2021, PELO processed 930 applications for initial issue and renewal of aircraft maintenance licences, and endorsement of additional aircraft types in such licences. During the report period, 1 803 examination papers regarding aircraft maintenance licensing were processed by PELO and the authorised examination centre at HAECO in Tseung Kwan O.

Aircraft Register

During the year, 15 aircraft were put on the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register. In the same period, one Cessna 152 II, five Airbus A320, one Airbus A321, four Airbus A330, one Airbus Helicopters EC120B, two Gulfstream G450, one Gulfstream G550, one Robinson R22 Beta, one Robinson R44 II, and two Moravan Z 242 L were removed from the Register. As of 31 March 2021, the total number of civil aircraft in the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register was 330, of which 281 were registered under Hong Kong AOC holders and the GFS as follows:

Occurrence Reporting

A total of 279 Mandatory Occurrence Reports (MOR) were received from the industry during the year. Through close liaison with air operators, maintenance organisations, aerodrome operator and air traffic service provider, the MOR were investigated with the aim of enhancing aviation safety and preventing recurrence.

Continuous Training for Inspecting Staff

The division arranged a broad spectrum of training on flight operations and airworthiness for inspecting staff to ensure that they can keep abreast of the latest technical knowledge and industry development. 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 with international experts, in particular those addressing the challenges faced by the aviation industry arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of these events included Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team Meeting, ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force Webinar for APAC Region, ICAO APAC COVID-19 Contingency and Recovery Planning Group Online Meeting, Continuous Airworthiness and Maintenance Management Symposium Meeting, International Maintenance Review Board Policy Board Meeting, and Safety Management International Collaboration Group Meeting.