Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics
Encyclopedia
The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics is a government agency
of the Colombia
n Ministry of Transport
. It is the agency in charge of regulating civil aviation
, the aviation
industry, and of managing the Colombian airspace
. Aerocivil is also in charge of managing and controlling all of Colombia's public airports. It is headquartered in the new Aerocivil building on the property of El Dorado International Airport
. Previously it was located on the fourth floor of the main terminal building of the airport.
as a whole, excluding military aviation
which falls under the Colombian Air Force
branch of the Colombian Military.
The agency also operates two agencies of its own, the Corporation of the Colombian Aeronautic Industry SA (Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana S.A, or CIAC) which is in agency in charge of construction, repair and maintenance of planes and jets, and the Centre for Aeronautic Studies (Centro de Estudios Aeronáuticos, or CEA), which creates programs for training and education in the field of aeronautics.
, the need for regulation led the government to take the first of such steps. On 31 December 1919, President Marco Fidel Suárez
sanctioned Law 126 of 1919, which became the first form of legislation in the country dealing with aviation, making aviation companies, and everything related to aviation subject to government regulations.
On 2 November 1933 during the administration of President Enrique Olaya Herrera
, Decree 1080 of 1933 was passed. This decree ascribed matters of civil aviation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, the next year however, Decree 1682 of 1934, expedited by the newly elect President Alfonso López Pumarejo
, ascribed it to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War now controlled all aspects of aviation in the country, military by the Air Force, and civil by the Department of Civil Aviation (Departamento de Aviación Civil).
As aviation became popular, and new international and national flight routes were created, the government saw the need to create a more organized and independent agency to oversee civil aviation. Was then that Congress
passed Law 80 of 1938, which created the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (Dirección General de Aeronáutica), centralizing the management of civil aviation into one agency. The agency was still part of the Ministry of War, but had gained more independence in management and finances, and was now in charge of the operations of aerodromes, airways
, aeronautic radiocommunications, meteorology
, and oversight.
On 18 October 1951 a change of name and command was implemented during the administration of President Laureano Gómez
, who by means of Decree 1956 of 1951, created the National Department of Civil Aeronautics (Departamento Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil), replacing the name and placing it under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works.
On June 18, of 1960, the National Government created by Decree 1721 of 1960 the Administrative Department of Civil Aeronautics (Departamento Administrativo de Aeronáutica Civil, DAAC), which was assigned specific technical and administrative duties to define aeronautic policy. In 1992 the DAAC merged with the National Aeronautic Fund (Fondo Aeronáutico Nacional), broadening its services and responsibilities.
On December 30, 1993 Congress passed Law 105 of 1993,which created the Administrative Department of Civil Aeronautics, thus replacing the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics, being now put under the administration of the Ministry of Transportation. The agency officially went into operation on 1 February 1994, with officials being sworn in again, and 450 employees laid off.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Transport (Colombia)
The Ministry of Transport is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for charge of regulating transportation in Colombia.- History :...
. It is the agency in charge of regulating civil aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
, the aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
industry, and of managing the Colombian airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
. Aerocivil is also in charge of managing and controlling all of Colombia's public airports. It is headquartered in the new Aerocivil building on the property of El Dorado International Airport
El Dorado International Airport
El Dorado International Airport is an international airport located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the largest Latin America airport in terms of cargo movements with 593,946 tons and the third in terms of passenger traffic, only behind São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport and Mexico City's...
. Previously it was located on the fourth floor of the main terminal building of the airport.
Agency
The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics is a semi independent agency of the Colombian Ministry of Transport. Aerocivil deals not only with civil aviation, but with general aviationGeneral aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
as a whole, excluding military aviation
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
which falls under the Colombian Air Force
Colombian Air Force
The Colombian Air Force or FAC is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia.The Colombian Air Force is one of the three institutions of the Armed Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the...
branch of the Colombian Military.
The agency also operates two agencies of its own, the Corporation of the Colombian Aeronautic Industry SA (Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana S.A, or CIAC) which is in agency in charge of construction, repair and maintenance of planes and jets, and the Centre for Aeronautic Studies (Centro de Estudios Aeronáuticos, or CEA), which creates programs for training and education in the field of aeronautics.
Mission
The mission of Aerocivil is to work towards the organized development of civil aviation, the aviation industry, and the safe use of the Colombian airspace, facilitating intermodal transportation, through:- The regulation of the use of the Colombian airspace and its airport and aeronautic infrastructure.
- The administration of the use of Colombian airspace by means of civil aviation, the airport and aeronautic infrastructure, and the coordination of its relations with that of the military.
- The lending of airport services and support to aviation.
- The exercise of control and observance of operational safety in the air-space sector.
- Implement the principles of quality and social responsibility; focusing its management in the continuous improvement of human talent, the processes and financial viability of the institution, as a strategy for organizational competitiveness.
Objectives
The objectives of Aerocivil as a government agency are :- To foment and regulate the development, coverage, and growth of civil aviation, and the industry and research of aeronautics, to guarantee national and international geographical connectivity and to contribute to the growth of the economy and the Colombian quality of life.
- To guarantee operational safety by means of planning, design, implementation, regulation, and control of the development of civil aviation, guaranteeing the observance of national and international standards and the improvement of the use and conditions of the environment.
- To guarantee the availability and effectiveness of the interactions of customers and the community and the review of their suggestions, needs and requirement.
- To adopt the best practices of management, direction, and control in the compliance methods to fulfill the requirements set by Law, and international standards, that allow the satisfaction of the clients and users, as well as the development and well being of our employees.
- To guarantee financial sustainability.
- to foment and optimize the mechanisms of investment, commercialization, and exploitation based in private participation and economic sustainability, in the lending of services of public and commercial airport administration, in accordance with the national and international standards of civil aviation.
- To determine the policies of development and regulation pertaining to the aeronautic sector.
- To guarantee the availability of airport infrastructure for the development of commercial activity.
- To select, adopt and maintain the technology applicable to the offering of services associated with the Agency.
- To guarantee the effective Administration of Human Talent, the development of competitiveness and the strengthening of the processes of formation, training, and investigation.
History
During the early 1990s the growth of civil aviation and commercial airlines created the need for their regulation and oversight. In 1919 with the creation of the first Colombian airline, SCADTASCADTA
The Colombian-German Air Transport Society , or SCADTA, was the world's second airline, and the first airline of the American continent, operating from 1919 until World War II. After the war, SCADTA merged with Colombian regional carrier Colombian Air Service , or SACO. Together, SCADTA and SACO...
, the need for regulation led the government to take the first of such steps. On 31 December 1919, President Marco Fidel Suárez
Marco Fidel Suárez
Marco Fidel Suárez was a Colombian political figure. He served as president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. He was born on April 23, 1855, in the town of Hatoviejo, Antioquia...
sanctioned Law 126 of 1919, which became the first form of legislation in the country dealing with aviation, making aviation companies, and everything related to aviation subject to government regulations.
On 2 November 1933 during the administration of President Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
, Decree 1080 of 1933 was passed. This decree ascribed matters of civil aviation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, the next year however, Decree 1682 of 1934, expedited by the newly elect President Alfonso López Pumarejo
Alfonso López Pumarejo
Alfonso López Pumarejo was a two-time Colombian president and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He served as president of Colombia for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945....
, ascribed it to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War now controlled all aspects of aviation in the country, military by the Air Force, and civil by the Department of Civil Aviation (Departamento de Aviación Civil).
As aviation became popular, and new international and national flight routes were created, the government saw the need to create a more organized and independent agency to oversee civil aviation. Was then that Congress
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
passed Law 80 of 1938, which created the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (Dirección General de Aeronáutica), centralizing the management of civil aviation into one agency. The agency was still part of the Ministry of War, but had gained more independence in management and finances, and was now in charge of the operations of aerodromes, airways
Airway (aviation)
In aviation, an airway is a designated route in the air. Airways are laid out between navigational aids such as VORs, NDBs and Intersections ....
, aeronautic radiocommunications, meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, and oversight.
On 18 October 1951 a change of name and command was implemented during the administration of President Laureano Gómez
Laureano Gómez
Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro was President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953, and long time leader of the Colombian Conservative Party.-Pre-election:...
, who by means of Decree 1956 of 1951, created the National Department of Civil Aeronautics (Departamento Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil), replacing the name and placing it under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works.
On June 18, of 1960, the National Government created by Decree 1721 of 1960 the Administrative Department of Civil Aeronautics (Departamento Administrativo de Aeronáutica Civil, DAAC), which was assigned specific technical and administrative duties to define aeronautic policy. In 1992 the DAAC merged with the National Aeronautic Fund (Fondo Aeronáutico Nacional), broadening its services and responsibilities.
On December 30, 1993 Congress passed Law 105 of 1993,which created the Administrative Department of Civil Aeronautics, thus replacing the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics, being now put under the administration of the Ministry of Transportation. The agency officially went into operation on 1 February 1994, with officials being sworn in again, and 450 employees laid off.
See also
- Transport in ColombiaTransport in ColombiaTransport in Colombia is regulated by the Ministry of Transport.Road travel is the main means of transport; almost 70 percent of cargo is transported by road, as compared with 27 percent by railroad, 3 percent by internal waterways, and 1 percent by air. Nevertheless, Colombia has one of the lowest...
- Ministry of Transport (Colombia)Ministry of Transport (Colombia)The Ministry of Transport is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for charge of regulating transportation in Colombia.- History :...
- Colombian Air ForceColombian Air ForceThe Colombian Air Force or FAC is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia.The Colombian Air Force is one of the three institutions of the Armed Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the...
- AviancaAviancaAvianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...