The Ministry of Transport ("MOT") has recently issued the Rules for Management and Operation of Flight Simulation Training Devices (the "Rules"), with effect from October 1, 2019.
Compared with the previous Rules for Identification and Use of Flight Simulation Devices, the Rules highlight major revisions in the following respects, including: 1. the title of this document; 2. qualifications and obligations of flight simulation training devices (FSTD) operators; 3. criteria of FSTD performance identification; 4. quality assurance system; and 5. validity of the device certificate. Among others, the Rules clearly state that aircraft simulators mainly used for general aviation are distinguished from the FSTD used primarily for transport aviation. For FSTD other than the simulators of "multi-engine aircrafts governed under the CCAR-121", the validity of their certificates may be extended to from 24 months to 36 months. Within the validity of the device certificate, the device operator will be required to submit to the Civil Aviation Administration of China ("CAAC") a report on device operation and maintenance and file a record, at 12-month intervals, to receive constant supervision, and ensure the device consistently meets the criteria of performance identification of the corresponding level.