Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau

The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) — or Kōkūkyoku (航空局) in Japanese — is the government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation within Japan. Operating under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), JCAB ensures the safety, security, and efficiency of Japan’s air transportation system. Its responsibilities include aircraft certification, pilot licensing, air traffic management, airport operations, and environmental standards for aviation.

JCAB also plays a key international role, maintaining compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards and approving advanced training devices such as Flight Training Devices (FTDs) and Full Flight Simulators (FFS) used by commercial and rotary-wing operators across Japan.