New legislation to tidy up aviation oversight aviation in Fiji

By Andrew Curran.

Seven years after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) raised regulatory concerns following an aviation audit, the Fijian Government will introduce a bill to resolve them.

According to a recently released public consultation notice, the proposed Civil Aviation Bill (2026), will modernise, consolidate, and improve the country’s civil aviation regulatory framework.

“It will repeal and replace the three existing primary aviation laws, the Civil Aviation Act (1976), Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji Act (1979), and Civil Aviation Reform Act (1999), with a single, clear, and updated law,” the notice reads.

In 2019, an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission audit found that various aviation legislation and regulations in Fiji were outdated or insufficient, although overall, the country ranked only behind Australia and New Zealand in terms of aviation safety in the Southwest Pacific.

Bill to align Fiji's aviation laws with ICAO standards

The proposed bill is designed to align Fiji's existing aviation laws with ICAO standards and recommended practices and addresses deficiencies identified in the audit.

The notice says that by consolidating Fiji’s three primary aviation laws into one piece of legislation, the governing legal framework will be more cohesive and avoid duplication.

The proposed bill also outlines a clear legal hierarchy and clearly states that the Chicago Convention is the industry’s ultimate reference point.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji’s Executive Manager of Compliance, Sereima Bolanavatu, told a tourism conference that the new legislation will focus solely on aviation safety. Aviation security will continue to be governed under the existing Civil Aviation Security Act.

The draft bill contains fourteen parts, each one addressing an aspect of aviation safety, including the operations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji; rule-making powers; requirements for industry participants, including pilots; personnel licensing and certification; airworthiness and aircraft registration; air services licensing; the incident and accident reporting regime; transportation of dangerous goods; use of unmanned aircraft; and the enforcement and appeals process.

The proposed bill also establishes an independent Accident Investigation Commission, a requirement under ICAO standards.

Fijian Government says it is committed to safe skies

Separately, an ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP-CMA) assessment in 2023 found no significant security concerns across Fiji’s aviation industry, although again the audit identified opportunities to strengthen aviation legislation and implement advanced passenger data systems for improved security screening.

The Fijian Government says it is committed to maintaining a robust oversight of aviation activities within its territory and for Fiji-registered aircraft.

“Our focus remains on continuous improvement, collaboration with stakeholders, and ensuring Fiji remains a secure and preferred destination for travellers worldwide,” said Civil Aviation Minister Viliame Gavoka at the time.

You can read a draft of the Civil Aviation Bill (2026) here.

Photo: AI-Generated.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com