Prawit calls talks after FAA downgrade !!!

 

The government will tell Representatives of 41 Thailand-

registered airlines it is trying to reverse the downgrade,

 but it will take time.

 (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has called a meeting

 with representatives from 41 Thai-registered airlines in the wake

 of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to

 downgrade Thailand's airline safety standards rating.

The meeting will be held Friday at Kesakomol House, the official

residence of the army chief, said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. The meeting will focus on aviation safety standards,

 he said, adding the timeframe before the industry could become

 re-certified would also be discussed.

The FAA demoted Thailand's safety standards status from

Category I to Category II on Tuesday, effectively preventing any

 Thai airline from flying to the United States.

The category suggests the country lacks the necessary laws or

regulations to oversee air carriers in accordance minimum

international standards, according to the FAA.

 While the ban on US flights will have no immediate effect on

the aviation industry since no Thai airlines fly directly to

 North America anyway, it also prohibits the launch of any

 new routes.

The downgrade comes only six months after the International

Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) red-flagged Thailand over

safety concerns when the now-defunct Department of Civil Aviation

 failed to meet a 90-day deadline to reform businesses and

 air operator certification processes.

 Meanwhile, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will

 announce the results of its audit of Thai aviation safety standards

next Thursday. Louis Moser, chairman of the Airline Operators

 Committee (AOC), has played down concerns over the

 EASA audit.

He said the audit focuses only  on Thai airlines which fly to

Europe, particularly Thai Airways International (THAI) and

Mjets. The two operators had also requested the EASA audit.

 Mr Moser said he is convinced the EASA will not ban Thai

 airlines operating flights to Europe.

 Director of the Office of Civil Aviation, Chula Sukmanop,

 admitted Thursday that his office is still short of officers needed

 to examine and issue certifications for the airlines' operations.

Efforts are being made to hire foreign experts from recognised

 institutes in the UK to take care of the issue, he said.

The foreign experts would also conduct training for office staff. "The preparation of this manpower could take quite some time," said Mr Chula, who is also the director-general of the Airport Department.

Meanwhile, asked if he was concerned about the EASA audit,

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said authorities have done

 their best to address the problems.

THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said the national

carrier's executives have prepared contingency plans to cope with

the EASA audit results, though they may not totally compensate

 for damage that could arise from the downgrade.

 According to another THAI source, if EASA decides to

 downgrade Thailand's aviation status and ban Thai airlines

from flying to Europe, the impact would be more severe than

 the FAA's downgrading.

News,General,Bangkok Post,4 December 2015.

 

Hope we have plan to implement to life up our airlines to

meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) category I

 standard in the near future.

Wish we meet the EASA standard and can still flight to Europe.

 

Sincerely Yours.