Answer for Written Question PT002

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd. Salam

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG HAJAH SAFIAH BINTI SHEIKH HAJI ABD. SALAM requested the MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFOCOMMUNICATIONS to state the Ministry’s measures in ensuring the domestic regulatory environment for the country’s aviation system, including maintenance capabilities, and the training of pilots and engineers. Is there a certification or aircraft leasing framework for the new fleet?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pengangkutan dan Infokomunikasi

In this regard, it is pleased to inform that the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, through the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), continuously ensures that the regulatory environment for the country’s aviation system is robust, effective and aligned with international standards.

Regulatory Framework and International Compliance

Negara Brunei Darussalam has been a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since 1985. Accordingly, all regulations and technical requirements implemented are guided by the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) established by ICAO under the 1944 Chicago Convention.

The DCA has formulated and implemented the Brunei Aviation Requirements (BARs) as the national legal and technical framework, covering aspects of aviation safety, airworthiness, flight operations, personnel licensing, aerodromes and air navigation services. This framework is continuously updated in line with developments in ICAO standards and global industry best practices.

Aircraft Maintenance Capability

To ensure that aircraft maintenance capability is maintained at a safe level and complies with standards, the DCA implements:

i. Certification and continuous oversight of approved maintenance organisations (Approved Maintenance Organisations, AMO);

ii. Periodic audits and compliance inspections to ensure that continuing airworthiness requirements are complied with.

In addition, the DCA also recognises certification and type certification from internationally recognised aviation authorities such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), subject to the prescribed validation process. This approach ensures that aircraft registered in Negara Brunei Darussalam meet global safety standards.

Pilot and Engineer Training and Licensing

The DCA implements an aviation personnel licensing system under requirements equivalent to ICAO Annex 1, covering:

i. Pilot licensing;

ii. Engineer licensing;

iii. Approval of flight training and maintenance organisations;

iv. Any foreign licence intended to be converted or recognised is subject to a competency assessment process and compliance with national requirements; and

v. In the context of the commercial aviation industry, operators such as Royal Brunei Airlines also comply with industry-recognised operational safety standards through audits such as the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) under the supervision of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in addition to regulatory oversight by the DCA.

Aircraft Certification and Leasing Framework for the New Fleet

With regard to the new fleet, every aircraft intended to be registered in Negara Brunei Darussalam is subject to:

• Official registration in the National Aircraft Register;
• Validation of a recognised Type Certificate;
• Inspection and issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness; and
• Compliance with ongoing operational and maintenance requirements.

For aircraft acquired through leasing arrangements, whether a dry lease or wet lease, the DCA will conduct a comprehensive assessment covering safety aspects, registration status, oversight by the State of Registry, as well as operational and maintenance responsibilities before approval is granted. This process is in line with the provisions of the country’s civil aviation laws and the practices recommended by ICAO.

In conclusion, the Ministry, through the DCA, ensures that the country’s aviation ecosystem—encompassing regulation, maintenance, training and certification—is based on international standards, continuously monitored and progressively improved so that aviation safety remains the country’s foremost priority.