Airworthiness Section

The Airworthiness Section has been formed to perform the DCA task of maintaining regular safety oversight of all of the airworthiness aspects of aviation in Bhutan, which includes Air Transport Operators, Approved Maintenance Organizations and safety oversight of any other person or organization involved in the design/production/modification/repair/maintenance of aircraft and training aspects of personnel engaged in civil aviation.
Effective safety oversight will help to ensure high standards are maintained and will fulfill these states obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Section will also be responsible to carry out Auditing of the system and the Licencing/approval of maintenance staff as a part of its regular inspection programme.
The personnel of this Section are responsible for carrying out all of the Safety Oversight Responsibilities assigned by the Convention on International Civil Aviation and its Annexes except for those elements that pertain to determining whether or not there is a need for a service and for determining the financial viability of an operator or a potential operator.

 

Note: The issuance of a licence to an operator or a potential operator is the prerogative of the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Director General of Department of Civil Aviation. The Airworthiness Section will provide information concerning a potential operator’s technical capabilities if asked to do so.

 

The essential elements of this states airworthiness regulatory system include:

  •  registration of aircraft
  •  aircraft type certification
  •  approval of changes to the type certificate (modifications and repairs)
  •  issue/renewal of Certificates of Airworthiness
  •  approval of design and production organization
  •  approval of aircraft maintenance organizations
  •  certification of operators and
  •  Licensing of personnel.

In order to accomplish these tasks, qualified Airworthiness Inspectors will be appointed to the DCA against established posts, and will carry out their duties as per the policies laid down by the DCA