The Austrian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is part of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). Its main tasks involve national regulation and aviation law, strategy development, representation and cooperation at European and international level as well as negotiation of bilateral air service agreements. The CAA aims to ensure high standards in the fields of aviation safety and security. It is further authorized to certify and survey ground handling and aerodromes. Besides the BMK, Austria has two additional supervisory organizations: Austro Control GmbH – Austria’s air navigation service provider (ANSP) – and the Austrian Aero Club.

Learn more about aviation in Austria here: Federal Ministry Republic of Austria-Climate Action

Austro Control GmbH is responsible for safe, reliable and efficient air traffic throughout Austrian airspace, with as many as 3,000 flight movements on some days. Employing state-of-the-art technology, Air navigation services provided by Austro Control include air traffic management, aeronautical information services, air traffic communication, air safety services and aviation weather. As the official aviation agency, Austro Control is – amongst others - responsible for the inspection of airworthiness and operational safety, the supervision of airlines and other services providers as well as the authorization of flights from and to Austrian airports. Amongst others, the Austrian Aero Club is responsible for the registration of sailplanes, balloons, ultralight aircrafts and motorised paragliders as well as the licensing of their pilots. 

Governmental promoted research and innovation in the area of aviation has seen a remarkable upsurge over the last decade. The ‘Take Off’ Austrian Aviation Research and Technology Program supported by the Federal Ministry of Climate Action (BMK) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) constitutes a substantial contribution.

Learn more about FFG here: Connecting Innovation

A variety of Austrian institutions conduct research and development in the area of aviation. One of the most prominent ones in the field is FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences. The focus of research at its Institute of Aviation lies in innovative aircraft design, materials and construction methods. Specific areas of expertise include approval aspects of unmanned aircraft, novel multicopter designs, aircraft icing experiments and simulations, and avionics systems. The institute also has access to flight simulators and a research aircraft for testing aeronautical components and systems in flight.

Austria is widely known for its modern, agile, and state-of-the-art aviation industry which constitutes an important economic factor. Seeking to foster more sustainable aviation, several industry driven projects address aviation’s environmental impact.

Learn more about sustainable industry initiatives here:  Fostering sustainability through innovation

Airport Vienna © Austrian Airlines_Michèle Pauty

Austria is one of the world's best destinations for sustainable tourism, as recently recognized in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report. Austria is a combination of pristine landscapes & bustling cities, historic towns & cutting-edge architecture, love of tradition & thirst for the new. What keeps travelers coming back to Austria is the sense of "Gemuetlichkeit": a lifestyle that celebrates the finer moments in life.

Hallstatt Lake © Lilly Freudmayer (Österreich Werbung)