Civil Aviation Authority

Profile narrative

The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAA) is the governmental body responsible for regulating civil aviation within the country, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport. It oversees the safety of air operations by licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, approving maintenance organisations, and authorising aviation training centres. The authority ensures that Israeli airlines, airports, ground handling providers, and ancillary service firms comply with both national aviation regulations and the standards and recommended practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In addition, the CAA manages the national aircraft register, monitors continuing airworthiness throughout the operational life of each registered aircraft, and issues airworthiness directives when necessary. Through these regulatory functions, the authority serves the entire Israeli aviation sector, which includes scheduled and non‑scheduled commercial carriers, cargo operators, general aviation pilots, flight schools, and unmanned aircraft system operators that fall under its purview.

The CAA’s regulatory mandate extends to all civil aviation activities conducted within Israeli sovereign airspace and at the country’s international and domestic airports. Its oversight covers both domestic flights that remain within Israel’s borders and international flights that originate, terminate, or overfly Israeli territory, ensuring consistent application of safety rules across the entire flight spectrum. While the authority concentrates on safety oversight and regulatory compliance, the management and operation of airport infrastructure and air navigation services are carried out by separate state entities, allowing the CAA to maintain a specialised focus on preventing accidents and incidents. The authority also disseminates aeronautical information, including notices to airmen (NOTAMs) and updates to the Israeli Aeronautical Information Publication, to ensure pilots and operators have current data for flight planning and safety. On 20 April 2022, the CAA’s online presence was disrupted by a distributed denial‑of‑service attack launched by the hacker group ALtahrea Team, which also targeted the websites of several Israeli media outlets, temporarily rendering the authority’s public information unavailable. The incident underscored the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for governmental aviation regulators and prompted a review of the CAA’s digital defence capabilities to safeguard critical aeronautical data and communication channels.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.