THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF FIJI

The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) is an independent statutory authority established under the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji Act 1979.

The main objective of this Act is to establish the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji with functions relating to civil aviation in particular the safety of civil aviation and matters incidental thereto. It provides for the establishment of a regulatory framework for maintaining, enhancing, and promoting the safety and security of civil aviation in Fiji, with particular emphasis on preventing aviation accidents and incidents.

FUNCTIONS OF CAAF

Section 14 of the CAAF Act 1979 stipulates the functions of CAAF as: –
1) The Authority has the following function—

a) any functions conferred on it by or under this Act or the Civil Aviation Act or the Civil Aviation Reform Act 1999; and
b) carrying out such obligations of the State arising from its State’s membership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation as the Minister directs.

2) The Authority also has the following safety-related functions –

a) encouraging a greater acceptance by the aviation industry of the industry’s obligation to maintain high standards of aviation safety, through –

(i) comprehensive safety education and training programmes;
(ii) accurate and timely aviation safety advice; and
(iii) fostering awareness in industry management, and within the community generally, of the importance of aviation safety and compliance with relevant legislation;

b) promoting full and effective consultation and communication with all interested parties on aviation safety issues; and
c) establishing and implementing a State Safety Programme in order to achieve an acceptable level of safety in civil aviation.

3) The Authority also has the function of regulating the safety of civil aviation operations in Fiji, among other things—

a) issue certificates, licences, approvals, registrations and permits after appropriate inspection, audit and examination;
b) developing and promoting appropriate, clear and concise aviation safety standards;

c) developing effective enforcement strategies to secure compliance with aviation safety standards;
d) assessing decisions taken by industry management at all levels for their impact on aviation safety;
e) conducting regular reviews of the system of civil aviation safety in order to monitor the safety performance of the aviation industry, to identify safety-related trends and risk factors and to promote the development and improvement of the system;
f) conducting a regular and timely assessment of international safety developments;
g) conducting regular reviews of aviation security programmes and activities;
h) the prosecution of any offence committed under the provisions of this Act and its Regulations, other than an offence under Part II of the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994;

i) doing any other thing which the Authority deems necessary for the enforcement of aviation safety.

We achieve our functions by: –

  • managing the entry and exit of participants to the aviation system
  • certifying and licensing participants in the aviation system
  • working to promote health, safety and better risk management
  • working to promote public and participant awareness of safety requirements
  • taking enforcement action where necessary
  • surveillance of the civil aviation system
  • research and development activities
  • incident investigation
  • engaging internationally with other aviation bodies and ICAO,
  • supporting other Pacific Island aviation activities
  • collection of fees and charges
  • providing policy advice to the Department of Civil Aviation on the aviation system
  • working with the Department of Civil Aviation and the Solicitor General’s Office on aviation legislation changes
  • maintaining accountability for the aviation system to the Fijian Government

It is from CAAF’s legislated functions that our corporate goals and objectives have been derived.

CAAF’s challenge is to balance the regulatory oversight required to ensure effective safety and security aviation activity against expectations of the aviation stakeholders. We must ensure that our decisions are effective, efficient, just, timely, transparent, documented and comply with legal requirements.​​​​​​​