AACM paid visit to CAAC in Beijing to exchange views on cooperation of accident/incident investigation and the future development of the air transport market between the two places

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) is dedicated to ensuring the safe, healthy and orderly development of the aviation market in Macao. Since the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the development of trade and commerce and the cultural exchange between mainland China and Macao has been enhanced. The renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding that governs the air transport market between the two places has greatly boosted the bilateral air servies. In order to reinforce the cooperation between the two areas, AACM.paid a visit to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) in Beijing to exchange views on the bilateral cooperation of accident/incident investigation and the prospect of Macao’s aviation in view of the direct cross strait flights that are likely to take place in the near future. In addition, AACM met China National Aviation Holding Company (CNAC) and Air China to obtain information about the future positioning of Air Macau.

The Macao delegation was composed of the President of AACM, Mr. Chan Weng Hong, and representatives from air transport, flight operations and licensing of the Authority. Representatives from the Beijing side were the Director General of the Aviation Safety Office of CAAC, Mr. Liu Yajun, the Director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of CAAC, Mr. Pu Zhaozhou, the President of CNAC, Mr. Kong Dong and so on.

Guaranteeing aviation safety has always been the priority task of AACM. In the meeting between AACM and the Aviation Safety Office of CAAC, the two sides presented to each other their regulations of accident/incident investigation. AACM stated that Macao’s aviation does not have a long history and therefore, the Authority does not have much experience in such aspect. As Macao’s aviation has entered into rapid growth and the number of aircraft will increase significantly, it will be vital for the Authority to equip their inspectors with the necessary knowledge to carry out investigation tasks. For this reason, AACM hopes to establish cooperation with CAAC so that the latter can provide assistance to Macao in personnel training and with the use of accident/incident facilities. Furthermore, AACM also hopes to obtain information from the mainland in the drafting of respective regulations.

Upon the request, the Aviation Safety Office of CAAC holds a positive attitude and agrees to provide all kinds of assistance to Macao in this aspect. The Aviation Safety Office also agrees, when the condition allows, to invite AACM’s inspectors to participate as observers in their investigation if an accident/incident arises.

For the purposes of sharing resources and building up the long term progress of the aviation safety between mainland China and Macao, both sides agree to sign a cooperation protocol in the future and meet regularly for exchange of information and experience.

Macao has taken up an important role in establishing the relationship between mainland China and Taiwan ever since its aviation has commenced. After the handover, Macao has always served as an ideal place where the cross straits parties meet for consultation. In the meeting between AACM and the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Office of CAAC, AACM thanked CAAC for their long term support to Macao’s aviation. AACM stated that the increased demand for the air transport market resulting from the growth of the gaming industry and the fact that direct cross straits flights which will be realized in the future has led to the need for our industry to cope with changes. To pave for this realization, the Macao SAR government has aimed at market diversification since some years ago. To better prepare our industry to face all changes that will come, AACM expressed their wish to establish closer tides with CAAC and obtain information about the development of cross straits direct flights. In response to AACM’s statement, the Office of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of CAAC reiterated the important role that Macao has played in building up the cross straits relationship. This Office further stated that although the cross straits direct flights will be realized, they will undergo a process. In the course of the process, the Central Government will put into consideration the impact that will affect Macao’s aviation. The Central Government will continue to grant support to Macao and establish a framework that will benefit its aviation on a long standing basis.

Since its establishment and operation in Macao, Air Macau has played a key part in the industry, especially in operating the mainland China-Macao-Taiwan flights. In this Beijing trip, AACM met CNAC (mother company of Air China) and Air China, the latter being the holding company of Air Macau, so as to get information about the future operation strategies of Air Macau. CNAC and Air China expressed that as direct cross straits flights will be realized, they have already paid concern on the strategies that will be adopted by Air Macau in their future operation. To ensure the sustainable development of Air Macau, the corporation indicated that Air Macau will restructure their route network and aircraft fleet, explore more new routes to improve their passenger profile. In addition, Air Macau will put more resources in developing some of the major markets in the mainland.

With the arrangement of CAAC and Air China, AACM took the opportunity to visit the facilities of the Aviation Accident Investigation Center of CAAC and the new terminal of Beijing Capital International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR and the Aviation Safety Office of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) met in Beijing to discuss cooperation on accident/incident investigation in the future (front row second from right is the Director  General of the Aviation Safety Office of CAAC, Mr. Liu Yajun).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR and the Office of theTaiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) met in Beijing to exchange views on the development of Macao’s aviation in view of the cross straits flights in the future. (front row middle is the Director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of CAAC, Mr. Pu Zhaozhou). 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR and China National Aviation Holding Company (CNAC) and AirChinamet in Beijing to exchange views on the future positioning of Air Macau.