General Rohan Daluwatte assumed the duties as the Chairman of CAA on 06th Jan 2012

Sri Lanka Parliament passed the Civil Aviation Bill with majority of votes

Message from Director General of Civil Aviation & Chief Executive Officer:

I have great pleasure to inform you that Sri Lanka Parliament passed the Civil Aviation Bill with majority of votes, last evening (19.10.2010). Hopefully it will come out soon as Civil Aviation Act No.14 of 2010 replacing the Air Navigation Act No.15 of 1950.

Whilst being extremely grateful to H.E. the President and the entire Government for taking a bold step in going ahead and creating an effective legal framework enabling the Civil Aviation Authority to discharge its legitimate duties and functions, I wish to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your valued contribution in this exercise to reach this historical milestone in Sri Lanka civil aviation. You were indeed the pillar of strength which helped the CAA in achieving this stage and it is really a your achievement.

As you all know the process started in 1997 consequent to the ICAO Assessment on the Safety Oversight capabilities of Sri Lanka. It has taken nearly 13 years to reach the expected target, a very slow pace compared to speeds inherent in aviation . During this long journey, a number of personnel in various capacities actively got involved and immensely contributed to this new law making process. On behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, I wish to take this opportunity to pay my profound tribute and gratitude to all of them for their fervent support and unstinted contribution. Without their support we would not have a thing to carry forward.

Latest Approvals Made by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to Facilitate Domestic Civil Aviation

• Relaxation in importation , operation  of certain categories of aircraft, radio controlled model   aircraft and flying devices  and manufacture  of  certain categories of radio controlled model aircraft – (click to view >>>)
•  If no special security arrangements are being made, no fees to be collected by the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police for providing security for aircraft  (rotary and fixed wing) at off airfield landing sites.
• Civil aviation aircraft are permitted to operate from  a beach landing / take off site located at the end of the Wasala road, Dehiwela, adjacent to the Naval establishment at the end of the marine drive with prior clearance from the SLAF.
• Civil aircraft day and night parking on the parking apron at Ratmalana airport to be permitted on space availability basis, SLAF, Civil aviation Authority and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd to facilitate in liaison.
• Civil Aviation Aircraft permitted to engage in off-shore operations and international shipping lane operations with prior coordination with SLAF and NAVY.
• Civil Aviation aircraft are permitted to fly through Kandy, a two Nautical Miles radius from the center of Dalada Maligawa should be treated as a no fly zone.
• Civil Aviation Authority in consultation with Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and SLAF to facilitate construction of hangar and parking apron facilities at Ratmalana, Katunayake, Katukurunda, Koggala and Weerawila for  civil aviation activities.domestic

Relaxation of Security Related Measures Relevant to Domestic Aviation

Subsequent to a presentation made to the Board  of the Civil Aviation Authority on “Open Skies of Sri Lanka”  extending out of  the “Ruhunu Open Skies” concept, a joint ‘Action Team’ of the SLAF and CAA, Chaired by the Commander of the Air Force/ Chairman CAA met on 26th March and 12th April 2010 in addition to the meeting of the Commander of the Air Force/ Chairman CAA with the Industry Stake Holders on 17th March 2010 leading to the following relaxations of security related measures relevant to domestic aviation,  that were in force during the armed conflict of the past decades.

1. Night Flying – Domestic Civil aircraft operations at night shall be operated without restriction. However flights  should not be originated  in the night. This relaxation is mainly to facilitate domestic flights including training flights that have proceeded to a destination during day time to return to home base at night.

The existing facility for local area and circuit night flying for training purposes will continue.

2.   Night Parking at SLAF Bases / Units – Night parkingshall be permitted at all SLAF Bases and units on payment. Parking at Ratmalana will be allowed inside hangar premises only.

3. Domestic Air Travel by Foreign Nationals – Foreign Nationals arriving at SLAF Bases/Units excluding Palaly, for the purpose of embarking on and disembarking from domestic flights shall not require prior approval from the Ministry of Defence.

      Photography and filming of any part of a SLAF Base or Unit remains strictly prohibited.

4. Issuance of Air Defence Clearance – The respective  Air Traffic Control tower/ Operator will be issued with Air Defence Clearance one hour prior to the estimated time of departure, subject to the time of receipt of the flight plan from the operator by the SLAF Central Operations Centre.

5.  Facilitation of Civil Aviation Flights during VVIP flights- Civil Aviation flights shall not be cancelled due to a VVIP flight. Reasonable consideration will be given to accommodate  civil aviation flights when Air Defence clearance is granted. In case of route of  a VVIP flight  not being  on the same track, such flights shall be permitted without restriction. In case of flights operating on same track or near vicinity, practical and economically viable tracks with time spacing shall be arranged  by the SLAF, without disrupting the commercial viability and operational safety and efficiency of such flight.

6.  Training Flying Time – There shall be no flying time reduction of a training flying sortie, when such flight has taken off during any time prior to  the Air Defence Clearance cut off  time for take –off.

7.  Balloon Operations.

1. Submission of Flight Plans and Air Defence Clearance- Flight plans will be accepted by the SLAF Central Operations Centre at least two hours prior to ETD, and Air Defence Clearance shall be provided at least one hour prior to ETD.
2. Passenger Manifest – Balloon operators are exempted from forwarding the passenger manifest.
3. Restrictions due to any other aircraft in the vicinity – Balloon flights shall not be restricted due to any other aircraft operating in the same vicinity or track other than  VVIP/ VIP  category flights. Balloons operating at 300 feet and below will not be affected by restrictions during VVIP/VIP flights.
4. Radio Communication Break Down – All balloons operated in Sri Lanka shall have two–way VHF radio communication.In case of  radio communication break down,  between a balloon and an ATC unit, the mobile flight following vehicle (MFFV) shall compensate by coordinating between the Balloon and the ATC through telephone communication. The procedure is  indicated in the flight operations manual  of each company which is a DGCA approved document.

 8. Pending Further Action – Extension of Air Defence Clearance Validity

Air Defence clearance validity will be extended up to one (1) hour after ETD and Thirty minutes (0.30) prior to ETD in due course. The present validity of 0.30 minutes has been published through a gazette promulgation (Gazette No. 1524/16 dated 23 November 2007). The above mentioned extension of Air Defence validity will only  be effective when the gazette notification is amended. CAA will be taking necessary action for the amendment.