FAA should correct Brunei’s Tilt towards PRC

Simone R. Pérez, Assistant Administrator for Policy and Strategic Engagement, BRUNEI should be on your radar screen. Why? It’s drift and its assets fit the President’s global policy.

The XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, the official press agency of the People’s Republic of China[1], announced that the Department Of Civil Aviation (BDCA) under Brunei’s Ministry Of Transport had adopted the civil aviation airworthiness standards of the news agency’s government. A quote in the report reflects the view of a Brunei’s airline CEO and he added perspective to this action by BDCA—

“…the move by Brunei demonstrates the international aviation COMMUNITY’S HIGH LEVEL OF RECOGNITION FOR CHINA’S AVIATION INDUSTRY DESIGN capabilities and safety management system.

“This represents a landmark achievement for bilateral collaboration in the field of aviation between China and Brunei,” he said. “

The comment about the global aviation community’s opinion of the PRC’s certification competence is a bit of an overstatement. It reflects his affection for China and maybe even that even Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz’zaddin Wad’daulah—

Why should this matter to Ms. Perez? Well, the President’s a foreign agenda: approach to resource-rich countries like Brunei has emphasized transactional diplomacy, strategic economic leverage (especially via tariffs), and selective civil aviation engagement shaped by broader trade dynamics. The Administration targets resource-rich nations—especially those with oil, gas, or rare earths—as economic partners or leverage points within a transactional foreign policy framework. While Brunei was not a central focus, its profile as a hydrocarbon-rich monarchy in Southeast Asia placed it within several overlapping strategic interests.

Ms. Perez has a broad range of assignments and international issues is but one. However, with the recent blunders in the FAA’s own jurisdiction and some difficult events with our aviation peers, a priority should include reestablishing the US’s nonpareil reputation. Brunei is among many countries for whom some attention should be devoted.

Brunei adopts China’s Airworthiness Code

Source: Xinhua| 2025-10-24 11:48:15|Editor: huaxi

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — Brunei has released updated civil aviation regulations, formally adopting the airworthiness code of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), according to the DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION UNDER BRUNEI’S MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

According to the newly revised Brunei Aviation Requirements “BAR 8 Part 21 Certification of Aircraft Parts and Appliances,” the Type Certificate issued by CAAC holds equivalent status to those issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and Transport Canada Civil Aviation, and is acceptable to the Bruneian authority.

CHAM CHI, CEO of GallopAir in Brunei, said that the move by Brunei demonstrates the international aviation COMMUNITY’S HIGH LEVEL OF RECOGNITION FOR CHINA’S AVIATION INDUSTRY DESIGN capabilities and safety management system.

“This represents a landmark achievement for bilateral collaboration in the field of aviation between China and Brunei,” he said. ■

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[1] Xinhua is the biggest and most influential media organization in China. Xinhua is a ministry-level institution subordinate to the Chinese central government. Its president is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.