Hong Kong signs aviation deal with Mainland, Macao

This aims to expand cooperation in the areas of operational and airworthiness certification.

The Civil Aviation Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CAD), the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region (AACM) have signed a cooperation arrangement on joint operation management and an amendment to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on closer cooperation on airworthiness certification in Macao.

This aims to expand cooperation in the areas of operational and airworthiness certification amongst the three parties and further promote aviation safety and operational efficiency in the three places.

"The signing of the cooperation arrangement and amendment to the MoU can deepen the level of cooperation among the three authorities and promote the development of the aviation industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” said Victor Liu, director-general of the CAD.

“It can also facilitate Hong Kong to seize the important opportunities brought by the National 14th Five-Year Plan and consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub," Liu added.

The three civil aviation authorities have been working closely over the years and have signed several cooperative agreements covering airworthiness certification and maintenance management.

The three parties further enhanced the collaboration by establishing a platform for operational management cooperation through the cooperation arrangement to facilitate safety information exchanges and optimise the operational certification process.

As for the amendment to the MoU, the MoU was signed in 2018 to enhance cooperation following the cooperation arrangements on Mutual Acceptance of Certificates of Airworthiness, Approvals of Design Change and Repair Design, and Parts Manufacturer Approvals signed by the three authorities since 2009.

This amendment to the MoU will further extend the scope of cooperation to cover mutual acceptance of Type Certificates, unmanned aircraft airworthiness management, and aviation fuel and chemical management, which in turn enhances aviation safety and environmental protection.