The former director-general of the Taichung Port Office, Lee Long-wen, has been appointed chief of Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).

His predecessor, Billy Chang, has retired after serving as CAA director-general for 13 years. He was the only former Air Force pilot to serve as CAA director-general.

"I also served as director-general in the Department of Aviation and Navigation, so I am not unfamiliar with the CAA's business," says Lee. He is now head of Taiwan Civil Aviation regulation and in charge of the operation and management of 18 civil airports in Taiwan.

Lee Long-wen says that CAA assistance to help domestic airlines cope with a decline in passengers would expire at the end of this year.

Starting last July, the CAA gave domestic airlines a 50% discount on landing fees and a 10% discount for rental of facilities and land at airports. The plan was extended to the end of this year to help airlines cope with soaring oil prices. The government will assist the airlines in maintaining their operations, Lee says, but they cannot rely solely on its assistance.

The agency will assess changes over the next six months to see if the plan needs to be adjusted, he says.