Experts and training consultants from Singapore will be hired to help the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) overcome safety concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Transport Ministry says.
Approval for the hiring will be sought at a meeting chaired by Transport Minister Prajin Juntong on Sunday, deputy permanent secretary for transport Phongchai Kasemtaweesak said.
The experts from Singapore will help draw up a corrective action plan (CAP), he said. A training institute will also provide training courses for Thai officials responsible for authorising aviation licenses.
A new CAP time frame will be also proposed at the meeting, he said.
According to Mr Phongchai, Singaporean experts familiar with the ICAO's audit procedure, are willing to help map out the plan.
DCA procedures for granting aviation licences failed to meet ICAO standards during an audit of the Thai aviation regulator in January. Concerns were also raised over how the DCA issues Air Operator Certificates and its regulations on transporting hazardous items, including batteries, engines and flammable substances.
The DCA was given a 90-day grace period to comply with ICAO requirements.
Referring to the regulations on transporting hazardous items, Mr Phongchai said a sub-committee, chaired by permanent secretary for transport Woradej Harnprasert, has made more than 90% progress in addressing the issue. The urgent tasks now concern how aviation licenses and air operator certificates are granted, he said.
For granting aviation licenses, operation manuals that comply with ICAO requirements will be produced.
Training will also be provided for DCA personnel so they will be able to re-examine 28 airlines previously granted permission by the regulator to operate international flights, he said.
Speaking on whether the ICAO will publish the Thai aviation regulator's flaws on its website if the department fails to address the problems within the 90-day deadline, Mr Phongchai said that was a matter for the ICAO.
"But whether member countries step in or impose measures against Thailand is another issue, so we must quickly tackle the problems," Mr Phongchai said.
DCA director-general Somchai Phiphutthawat said the ICAO will announce its audit results on Thai aviation safety on June 18.