[1] It is subordinate to the Ministry of Information and Communications and has its head office in Paro.
[2] The department is empowered to carry out its functions under the Kingdom of Bhutan Civil Aviation Act 2000.
[4] It was not until 1983 that Bhutan's national airline, Druk Air, established a unit to look after civil aviation matters.
As a newly established agency, the department sought assistance from the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Development Programme.
These agencies provided assistance with staff training and organizational capacity building.