HKAR-66 vs EASA Part-66: Is Your Study Material Valid in Hong Kong?

If you are preparing for an aircraft maintenance engineer licence in Hong Kong, you may wonder whether EASA Part-66 practice questions and textbooks apply to you. For the basic-knowledge exams, the answer is largely yes. Here is the plain-English explanation, with official sources at the foot of the page.

At a glance

Does Hong Kong use Part 66?

Hong Kong uses its own equivalent, HKAR-66. CAD describes it as “a set of requirements for the qualification of aircraft maintenance staff by the issue of an Aircraft Maintenance Licence.” It is administered by the Civil Aviation Department, not by EASA.

HKAR-66 became effective on 1 April 2002, with a compliance date of 1 April 2004. It follows the JAR-66 framework — the European Joint Aviation Requirements standard that EASA Part-66 later superseded — which is why its licence categories, pass mark and module-based exam format line up so closely with EASA's.

Are the modules and exams the same?

For the basic-knowledge theory, they are closely aligned — which is why EASA study material works as preparation for the HKAR-66 exams. Here is the side-by-side:

The 75% pass mark, the 75-seconds-per-MCQ timing and the four-question / 20-minutes-each essay format are stated directly by CAD. The shared JAR-66 / EASA Part-66 lineage is widely-recognised industry knowledge rather than a CAD statement — confirm current exam parameters with CAD's Personnel Licensing Office before relying on them.

The Hong Kong licence structure

HKAR-66 defines five Aircraft Maintenance Licence categories — the same A/B1/B2/B3/C structure used under the JAR-66 framework:

Holding an EASA licence? Converting to Hong Kong

There is no automatic swap between EASA and Hong Kong licences — they are not mutually recognised. To obtain an HKAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence you go through CAD's normal application process, regardless of any licence you already hold elsewhere:

1. 1. Apply to CAD

   Lodge the relevant CAD application forms (for example DCA35) with the Personnel Licensing Office.

2. 2. Document your experience

   Provide a record of maintenance experience (for example the DCA35B record-of-experience form).

3. 3. Sit any required examinations

   Pass the HKAR-66 basic-knowledge module exams that apply to your category, achieving 75% in each.

4. 4. Hong Kong air law

   The aviation-legislation content is Hong Kong law and must be studied from local material.

What this means if you're studying in Hong Kong

For the HKAR-66 basic-knowledge exams, EASA Part-66 practice questions are valid preparation — HKAR-66 shares the JAR-66 lineage, the same A/B1/B2/B3/C categories, the same 75% pass mark and the same module-based written-exam format. Our question bank covers all 17 Part-66 modules, ready for HKAR-66 and EASA candidates alike. Just remember that the aviation-legislation (air-law) content is Hong-Kong-specific and should be studied from local material.

Sources

Primary statements on this page come from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD). The shared JAR-66 / EASA Part-66 lineage is widely-recognised industry knowledge and is labelled as secondary. Verify each point directly:

• CAD — HKAR-66 (Aircraft Maintenance Licence) · the official HKAR-66 page (definition, categories, regulation citation).
  cad.gov.hk/english/HKAR-66.html
• CAD — Licences overview · the personnel-licensing hub for CAD-issued licences.
  cad.gov.hk/english/CAD_Licences.html
• CAD — HKAR-66 AML Examination dates & information · exam schedule, 75% pass mark, MCQ & essay format, application forms.
  cad.gov.hk/english/HKAR-66 AML Exam Date.html
• JAR-66 / EASA Part-66 lineage · secondary: general aviation-training and industry references on the JAR-66 framework that EASA Part-66 superseded.
  Widely-recognised industry knowledge — not a CAD statement.