The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is a national regulatory authority under the administration of the Ministry of Transport and serves as the competent department of China’s civil aviation industry.
Its core responsibilities include:
- formulating development plans, policies and industry standards for the civil aviation sector
- drafting relevant laws and regulations
- supervising civil aviation flight safety, ground safety and aircraft airworthiness certification to uphold the industry’s safety baseline
- regulating the market order of air transport and general aviation
- standardizing service quality
- protecting the legitimate rights and interests of aviation consumers
- coordinating the planning and construction of civil airports and air traffic control management
- advancing scientific and technological innovation, international cooperation and industry reform in the civil aviation sector.
As the core regulator of the industry, CAAC drives the high-quality and safe development of China’s civil aviation industry. It also continuously promotes the development of smart civil aviation, low-altitude economy and other emerging sectors, supporting the national comprehensive transportation system and overall economic and social development.
The China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology (CAST), also known as the Aviation Safety Technology Center of CAAC is a public institution directly under the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
It is a comprehensive civil aviation research institution approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, with its predecessor being the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Science and Technology founded in 1986.
CAST conducts core technology research centered on civil aviation safety and development. It provides full-chain technical support for CAAC’s industry decision-making and supervision and delivers professional sci-tech services to civil aviation enterprises, public institutions and aviation product manufacturers.
Its research covers aviation safety, smart civil aviation, airport operation, airworthiness technology, air traffic control and other fields. It undertakes technical analysis for accident investigation, major industry research project management and sci-tech achievement commercialization, serving as a core research force supporting the building of China into a civil aviation powerhouse.
