Digitalisation of Aviation Personnel Licensing

In July 2024, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) launched the Personnel Licensing Information System (PLIS), marking a significant step in the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s aviation industry.

Under the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap. 448C), CAD is responsible for issuing licences to flight crew, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance engineers, and medical certificates to flight crew and air traffic controllers. The PLIS has been developed as a comprehensive, one-stop platform for managing these applications, incorporating insights from extensive user acceptance testing.

The PLIS streamlines the licensing process by enabling online submissions, payments, and real-time status tracking. Users can now manage and retrieve their applications and licensing records anytime, anywhere, fostering greater efficiency. Key technological advancements in PLIS include automatic validation checks of applicants’ qualifications, submission of digital documents, and auto-population of application fields based on existing records. These features significantly reduce the likelihood of errors, ensuring compliance with personnel licensing requirements while expediting the application process.

The successful launch of PLIS is a testament to the dedicated efforts of CAD teams together with the invaluable feedback and unwavering support from industry stakeholders gathered during multiple consultation sessions. It sets a benchmark for public service digitalisation and also underscores commitment to innovation, efficiency, and public service enhancement, strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub.

Please click here to visit the PLIS.

[Acknowledgement to the CAD for providing material for the story.]