On 15 May 2006, Heine Richardsen was appointed Director General of the CAA.

The CAA shall contribute to increased safety in civil aviation, and has the overall responsibility for establishing norms and regulations, carry out certification, conduct quality control of equipment and issue certificates to aircraft operators, technical organisations, pilots and cabin crew. In addition, the body is to oversee the compliance of rules and regulations.

The CAA oversees aircraft operators, maintenance organisations, production organisations, aviation training schools, aircrafts, licence holders in addition to all private aviation schools, heliports and landing areas on the continental shelf. Furthermore, the body is to control navigation and communication systems, and the operation of all aerodromes in Norway.

One of the tasks of the CAA is to oversee that the aircraft operators and other operators establish internal control systems and that these systems are satisfactory. In addition, the CAA aims to simplify the regulation concerning certification and renewal of licenses for the various organisations and the various certificate applicants. The overall goal for all civil aviation is to increase safety. This work is also done through an extensive international cooperation with among others the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC).

Norway participates in these organisations which develop international standards and legislation. The CAA coordinates the Norwegian representation in the above-mentioned bodies, and has the following responsibilities:

• Bi- and multi-lateral negotiations and relations
• General aviation politics
• Handling of applications in compliance with the Norwegian Aviation Act
  • scheduled flights pursuant to either a civil aviation agreement or unilateral permits
  • charter and taxi flights into/from Norwegian territory
  • aerial work/transportation on landing areas not used in general aviation
  • flights containing dangerous goods
  • flights with special aircraft documents
  • flights on Svalbard
  • single helicopter flights in the North Sea
  • non-scheduled transits
  • supersonic flights with foreign aircrafts
  • commercial flights on military aerodromes
• Collection of various documentation, including the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in connection with traffic permits of foreign operators
• Recommendation of licence to foreign airline companies for flights into/from Norwegian territory
• Computer-based reservation systems
• Approval of traffic programmes

The CAA has been given the general civil aviation authority and oversight role, with an overall responsibility for establishing norms and stipulating provisions, certification and surveillance, in addition to the responsibility for the Norwegian Civil Aircraft Register.