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 2020, 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 144 flight operations and cabin safety inspections, the Inspectorate staff of the Flight Standards Office conducted 358 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 24 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 633 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.
An Airworthiness Officer and a Flight Operations Inspector conduct Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) inspection.
An Airworthiness Officer and a Flight Operations Inspector conduct Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) inspection.
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 2020, 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.
An Airworthiness Officer conducts routine aircraft inspection.
Aircraft Maintenance Training
As of 31 March 2020, 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 2020, 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 2020, 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 2019 and 31 March 2020)
| Certificate of Airworthiness issued | 15 |
| Certificate of Airworthiness renewed | 303 |
| Certificate of Airworthiness withdrawn | 24 |
| Major Modification approved | 25 |
| Approved Aircraft Maintenance Organisations | 33 |
| Approved Aircraft Maintenance Training Organisations | 5 |
| Approved Design and Production Organisations | 11 |
| Approved HKAR-183 Organisations | 7 |
Personnel Licensing Office
Flight Crew Licensing
During 2019-20, the Personnel Licensing Office (PELO) processed 3 111 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 5 779 CAD flight crew licensing written examinations. In addition, 5 605 medical certificates were issued to holders/applicants of Hong Kong flight crew licence or air traffic controller's licence.
Aircraft Maintenance Licensing
As of 31 March 2020, PELO processed 1 240 applications for initial issue and renewal of aircraft maintenance licences, and endorsement of additional aircraft types in such licences. During the report period, 1 986 examination papers regarding aircraft maintenance licensing were processed by PELO and the authorised examination centre at HAECO in Tseung Kwan O.
PELO provides counter service to licence applicants.
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, 10 aircraft were put on the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register. In the same period, four Boeing B777, one Boeing B747, one Airbus A300, one Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, four Airbus A350, one Gulfstream G550 and five Bombardier BD700 were removed from the Register. As of 31 March 2020, the total number of civil aircraft in the Hong Kong Civil Aircraft Register was 334, of which 297 were registered under Hong Kong AOC holders and the GFS as follows:
| Aircraft Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Airbus A300 | 9 |
| Airbus A320 | 39 |
| Airbus A321 | 19 |
| Airbus A330 | 79 |
| Airbus A350 | 38 |
| BAE 4100 | 1 |
| Boeing B747 | 20 |
| Boeing B777 | 68 |
| Bombardier CL-600-2B16 | 2 |
| Gulfstream G450 | 1 |
| Moravan Z 242 L | 1 |
| DA 42 NG | 1 |
| Helicopters | 19 |
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 Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team Meeting, ICAO Assembly, ICAO Airworthiness Panel Meeting, EASA International Cooperation Forum, 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.