The Malaysian State Technical Airworthiness (MSTA) Seminar Serial 20/2025, organized by the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA), was successfully conducted from 29 September to 2 October 2025 at Awana Resort, Genting Highlands. This annual seminar serves as a key platform for DGTA to engage with State Aircraft Operators (SAO) and representatives from the local aerospace and defence industry to discuss current developments and best practices in the field of technical airworthiness.

 

With the theme “Ensuring Safety and Innovation in Aviation Through Airworthiness,” this year’s seminar emphasized the integration of safety assurance and technological innovation to strengthen Malaysia state airworthiness ecosystem. Beyond knowledge sharing, MSTA acts as an important avenue for DGTA to obtain direct feedback from industry and operator representatives on airworthiness management issues affecting state-registered aircraft.

 

 

Objectives of the Seminar

The seminar was designed with the following key objectives:

1.  To present audit findings and initial approval outcomes for discussion and improvement towards better regulatory compliance.
2.  To share current information and issues related to technical airworthiness through professional talks by experts from the local aerospace and defence sectors.
3. To provide a knowledge-sharing platform for organisations to exchange experiences that can enhance national state airworthiness management.
4.  To strengthen airworthiness management practices at all levels of organisations certified under DGTA’s Organisational Approval framework.
5.  To foster closer collaboration between organisations in ensuring the readiness of defence and combat assets.

 

 

 

Highlights of Technical Presentations

A total of five topics were presented during the seminar, covering a range of pertinent topics in aviation safety, maintenance, and innovation:

1. Regulatory Compliance Review - Authority Insights. Lt Kol Haji Hamsari bin Subhi (DGTA, AAMR Division) presented an evaluation on MSTAM compliance, identification of airworthiness gaps, unsafe conditions, and proposed corrective and preventive actions.

 

 

 

2. Occurrence Reporting. Lt Kol Mohd Al Badawi bin Abdul Halim TUDM emphasized the need of detailed occurrence reporting in the MSTAM-regulated community, following Technical Airworthiness Advisory Circular (TAAC-G-003) as a reference.

 

 

 

3. Predictive Maintenance Through Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) with Advances in Artificial Intelligence. Prof Dr Ahmad Zuri bin Sha’ameri (UTM) highlighted the application of AI-powered HUMS technologies for predictive maintenance, enabling early detection and proactive fault management.

 

 

 

 

4. Enhancing Aviation Safety and Airworthiness Through Innovative Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Solutions. Mej Ir Ts Dr Arvinthan Venugopal TUDM (PUSPEKA) shared insights on advanced NDT techniques incorporating automated defect recognition, robotics, and artificial intelligence to improve accuracy and efficiency in aircraft inspections.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for RMAF F/A-18D Hornet Aircraft. Lt Kol Kok Choon Kiam TUDM (PUSPEKA) elaborated on the ongoing SLEP initiative to extend the operational lifespan of the RMAF’s F/A-18D Hornet aircraft beyond 6,000 flight hours.

 

 

 

The Launch of the Malaysian State Technical Airworthiness Manual (MSTAM)

One of the most significant milestones of MSTA 20/2025 was the official launch of the Malaysian State Technical Airworthiness Manual (MSTAM) by the State Airworthiness Authority (SAA), YBhg Panglima Tentera Udara.

 

 

 

 

The MSTAM serves as a comprehensive reference framework that defines Malaysia technical airworthiness requirements, encompassing seven volumes:

1.  Volume 1 – Malaysian State Technical Airworthiness Program (MSTAP)
2.  Volume 2 – MSTAR 21: Aircraft Design, Production, and Certification
3. Volume 3 – MSTAR M: Continuing Airworthiness Management
4.  Volume 4 – MSTAR 145: Requirements for Maintenance Organisations
5.  Volume 5 – MSTAR 66: State Aircraft Maintenance Licensing
6.  Volume 6 – MSTAR 147: Aircraft Maintenance Training Organisations
7.  Volume 7 – MSTAR UAS: Implementing Regulations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

This manual represents a major step forward in standardising and strengthening Malaysia airworthiness framework for state aircraft, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance with international standards.

Key Outcomes

The seminar concluded with four main outcomes reflecting the commitment of DGTA and the regulated community towards continuous improvement in technical airworthiness:

• Strengthening DGTA’s Role in Supporting the National Aerospace Industry. DGTA reaffirmed its pivotal role in driving the growth of Malaysia aerospace and defence industry in alignment with the National Defence Policy. Through certification programs such as MDOA, MPOA, AMO, CAMO, and AMTO, as well as licensing under State Aircraft Maintenance Licence (SAML), DGTA ensures operational safety, technical reliability, and enhanced national aerospace competitiveness.

• Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Maintenance and Monitoring. The adoption of AI technologies in maintenance and monitoring processes enhances predictive capabilities, operational efficiency, and safety assurance. This aligns with DGTA’s digital transformation agenda and promotes a forward-looking approach to aviation maintenance and engineering.

• Empowerment of MSTAM Among the Regulated Community. MSTAM serves as a “living document” that must evolve alongside technological and regulatory developments. Organisations are encouraged to strengthen their compliance through structured audits, continuous training, and integration of digital systems within their quality management processes.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

The MSTA Seminar Series 20/2025 once again underscored its significance as a strategic platform for enhancing collaboration, fostering innovation, and strengthening the culture of safety within Malaysia state aviation community.

Organised by the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA), the seminar convened industry experts, regulators, and defence stakeholders to deliberate on current developments and future directions in airworthiness management.

By continuously integrating emerging technologies and reinforcing regulatory frameworks, DGTA remains steadfast in leading national efforts towards achieving technical excellence and operational readiness, in alignment with Malaysia broader defence and aerospace aspirations.

 

 

“Ensuring Safety and Innovation in Aviation Through Airworthiness”