Contents
       Background
       Acheivements
       Significant Landmarks
       Safety policy and constraints
       Mandate
       Ongoing Programme activities

  Background:

  Although the airstrip at Paro airport became operational as far back as 1968, it was only in   march 1981 that Druk Air, the national flag carrier, was first established. Druk Air commenced   Commercial Air Transport services in 1983 with two 18 – seater Dornier aircraft. In the same   year, a unit of the airline was set up to look after civil aviation matters, which later became the   Department of Civil Aviation in january 1986.
    
 Druk Air's twin turbo prop Dronier 228-200     -    january 1983

  Increasing traffic volume and poor operational reliability soon however, necessitated the   replacement of Dornier by a large capacity jet aircraft. The BAe146 -100 series with four   engines was considered the best option available then for operation into our mountainous   terrains. Subsequently, the first of the two BAe 146’s was inducted in the late 1980’s.

  In keeping with the international requirement for the establishment of an independent aviation   safety authority, the Department of Civil Aviation was established in January 1986, as a   government agency responsible for the promotion, planning and safety regulation of civil   aviation. It started with only a hand full of people with very limited knowledge and exposure on   the intricacies of air travel safety. Given the highly complex socio-technological nature of the   aviation system, it was extremely demanding for an organization just established and faced   with strenuous financial and human resources, to fully discharge the responsibilities that it was   entrusted with.

  Nevertheless, though the technical assistance of ICAO and UNDP, staff training and   organizational capacity building continued in the late nineteen hundred and eighties until
  the mid nineties. At the end of the ICAO-UNDP project the Department was staffed with fairly   adequate human resources required for safety regulation and provision of air navigation   services. Over the years DCA’s function expanded gradually, which led to a corresponding   increases in its human resources for the following safety related functions.

1. Flight Safety – Airworthiness and Flight Operations
2. Aerodrome Safety
3. Airport Management
4. Airport Fire Fighting & Rescue Services
5. Aviation Security Services
6. Aeronautical Communication and Navigation Services
7. Air Traffic Services
8.  Aeronautical Information Services
9. Aviation Meteorological Services
   

  Achievements:

  Since its establishment the Department had progressed through several landmark   achievements. In terms of organizational capacity the department has emerged from a virtual   total reliance on expatriates to that of fully national staffed. Today the Department’s primary   functions are:

1. Promotion of civil aviation though formulation of clear development policies that are in accord with the international principles, and environmentally sustainable.
2. Development of aviation regulations in lines with the international standards, and their enforcement on the aviation industry through regular safety  oversight activities
3. Development of infrastructure and provision of air navigation services for safe, efficient and economical civil air transport service on both the domestic and international arena.

   Significant Landmarks:

1. On 17 May 1989 Bhutan ratified the Chicago Convention of 1944 and became a Contracting State to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Bhutan has also rarified the Tokyo Convention on 25th January 1989, the Hague Convention on 28th December 1988 and the Montreal Convention on 28th December 1988.
   
   
2. The Civil Aviation Act was first passed in 1990, which was later revised and re-enacted in 2000. The Act provides a legal basis for the development and enforcement of Bhutan Air Navigation Regulations, according to which the state responsibilities are discharged. The Act also provides a legal force to the Chicago Convention and its annexes in Bhutan.
   
   
3. Till date Bilateral Air Services Agreement have been signed with five countries enabling air services to six destinations on the following dates.
              -  4th July 1986 - with People's Republic of Bangladesh
              -  10th September 1991 -with the Republic of India
              -  2nd June 1993 -with the Kingdom of Thailand
              -  7th August 2002 - with the Union of Myanmar
              -  4th February 2004 -with the Kingdom of Nepal
              
   
   
4. Commissioning of the new passenger terminal and ATC tower complex at Paro airport in 1999. The new infrastructure and associated facilities have tremendously enhanced the quality and reliability of services and have helped streamline the security procedures at the airport
   
   
5. In accordance with the civil aviation act the Bhutan Air Navigation Regulations was published on 1st April 1999
   
   
6. In the year 2000, the Fire Section of DCA took over the Airport Fire Fighting & Rescue Services from the Indian Air Force Element.
   
   
7. In 2004 the Civil Aviation Master plan was drafted under the Bhutan Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) and Management Training Project .

   Safety policy and Constraints.

  In line with provisions under the ICAO Convention, the DCA is committed to ensuring a safe,   orderly and economical growth of air transport in the Kingdom. This objective can be achieved   through a proactive and coordinated approach involving the whole aviation sector.

  The existence of an aviation regulatory authority with technical competency and financial   autonomy would greatly facilitate the achievement of this objective. Primary Aviation   Legislations are in place that provides for the adoption and implementation of safety standards   in conformity with the ICAO standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). Extremely high   emphasis is placed on enchanting the safetyoversight Capacity of the department through the   recruitment and training of competent professionals.


   Mandate

  From its beginning with a handful of people in 1986, it has now bloomed into a competent   technical organisation with 9 technical sections and over 200 staffs. The Department has   progressed from an organisation totally reliante on external experties to being fully staffed by   national professionals. Today the Department's primary roles are :

• Promotion of civil aviation through formulation of clear development policies that are in accord with the international principles, and environmentally sustainable.
• Development of aviation regulations in line with the international standards, and their enforcement on the aviation industry through regular safety oversight activities.
• Development of infrasture and provision of aeronautical services for safe, efficient and economical civil air transport service in Bhutan.

                                                                                                                                                                
  DCA Bhutan continues to review aviation policy and procedures to ensure that international   standards in line with ICAO mandates are adhered to. Within the framework of the Civil Aviation   Master Plan (CAMP) and recently initiated Organisational Development(OD) excercise,DCA's   current organization structure is being reviewed.
  A more appropriate structure with a well defined segregation between regulatory and services'   sections is under consideration to be subsequently adopted by the Department.

  On going Programme Activites

  1.    COSCAP – SA Project

  The Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness   Programme – south Asia ( COSCAP – SA) is a cooperative agreement between the states of    Bangladshes,  Bhutan, India, Maldives ,Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The programme is   guided by a Steering Committee and executed by the International Civil Aviation Organization by   means of a Trust Fund. The implementation of programme commenced in February 1998.

  The programme aims at enhancing he safety and efficiently of air transport operations in the   region through ‘co-operative development of operational safety and continuing airworthiness’   for the South Asia region and hence the establishment of the organization of CO-SCAP –SA.   The purpose of COSCAP is to overcome deficiencies in the flight safety oversight capability of   the participant States by providing a regional core of highly qualified flight operations and   airworthiness experts and inspectors to perform the full range of flight safety inspection and   certification functions on behalf of the participant States.

  Initially convinced to last for five years, the Steering Committee has decided to institutionalize   the programme and gradually regionalize the programme expertise and also to expand the   scope of the programme by including the subject of aerodrome safety. The programme   duration is increased by 5 years to a total of 10 years.

  2.    Capacity Development Project (CDP) - Swedavia.

  Swedavia  is   assisting the Department of Civil Aviation of Bhutan with necessary experts from   the LFV group,   Swedish Airports and Swedish Air Navigation Service provider. Swedevia is in
  a  unique position to make available international specialist for the project. Swedavia has   entered into an  agreement with Eltel Network to ensure that Bhutan DCA will be provided with   the most competent individuals available.      ....Read more