Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)

The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) is the civil aviation authority of Hong Kong, headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport. The department is responsible for providing air traffic control services to all aircraft operating within the Hong Kong Flight Information Region. It reports to the Transport and Housing Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. The current Director-General of Civil Aviation is Victor Liu Chi-yung.

Civil Aviation Department
民航處
Agency overview
Formed1 May 1946 (1946-05-01)
HeadquartersCivil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong
Employees691 (March 2008)
Annual budget677.5m HKD (2008-09)
Agency executive
  • Liu Chi-yung, Victor, JP, Director-General of Civil Aviation
Websitewww.cad.gov.hk
Civil Aviation Department
Traditional Chinese民航處
Simplified Chinese民航处
Cantonese YaleMàhn hòhng chyu
Head office

The CAD was also responsible for managing the former Hong Kong International Airport at Kai Tak, until it was retired and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport managed by the Airport Authority.

Both the Flight Standards & Airworthiness Division and Accident Investigation Division of the CAD investigates aviation accidents and incidents.[1][2]

During British rule, CAD was not a sub-unit of the British Civil Aviation Authority. Since 1997, CAD maintains independence from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

History

The CAD was established on 1 May 1946.

In 2018, responsibility for investigation of aircraft accidents was transferred to the newly formed Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA).

Facilities

The agency is headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok.[3] Previously it was on the 46th floor of the Queensway Government Offices.[4]

Safety concerns

In late 2016, CAD introduced a new air traffic system that attracted concerns over the increased risk that it puts travellers departing and arriving into Hong Kong airspace. On 8 February, it was revealed by a FactWire investigation that there were six cases of safety incidents involving “loss of separation” in January 2017 because CAD's new air traffic management system (ATMS) did not operate correctly. Five of the cases occurred during the peak-time Lunar New Year holidays, and none was made known to the public. As a comparison, it was noted that only 10 incidents of "loss of separation" would happen per year under the previous system and such cases were treated as very serious due to the risk of mid-air collision.[5] After criticism of having covered up the 6 "los" incidents, CAD released a statement on their website at 11:34pm to claim that all incidents are "minor", although industry experts claim that all "los" incidents should be treated as serious due to the potential damage.

Further criticism and investigation has begun into CAD's director Simon Li into whether kickbacks and additional benefits was received during the tender of the new air traffic system.

See also

References
  1. "Accident Investigation Division Archived 2017-07-24 at the Wayback Machine." Civil Aviation Department. Retrieved on 9 June 2009.
  2. http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/cad_division.html#fsad
  3. "Contact Us." Civil Aviation Department. Retrieved on August 11, 2014. "Director-General of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong " Traditional Chinese address: "來函民航處處長 香港大嶼山香港國際機場 東輝路1號 民航處總部辦公大樓", Simplified Chinese address: "来函民航处处长 香港大屿山香港国际机场 东辉路1号 民航处总部办公大楼"
  4. "Comments and Enquiries." Civil Aviation Department. Retrieved on 3 May 2010. "Director-General of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong"
  5. "
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