The Transport Ministry has given the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) until Thursday to improve safety certification for Thai-registered airlines — one of the aviation concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Speaking after Monday's meeting to address the ICAO's concerns, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said the DCA's corrective action plan to ease the worries over safety certification for Thai-registered airlines needs to be reviewed by Thursday. It comes as the government prepares for checks by other overseas agencies.
ACM Prajin said three problems were identified: a delay in preparing aviation safety inspection manuals; shortages of qualified personnel to carry out inspections of the airlines, and a lack of personnel trained in line with the ICAO's requirements.
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He also said it is unclear when the inspection and certification of 28 new airlines will take place. But it will only happen after the three problems have been solved.
The ICAO has red-flagged Thailand for "significant safety concerns" over air safety.
These are all the countries in the world with ICAO red flags for deficient safety regulations.
The announcement was made on the ICAO's website on June 18 after a 90-day deadline to improve safety standards expired.
The concerns were raised when the ICAO carried out an audit of the department's performance earlier this year.
The DCA, which plays a key role in regulating aviation businesses and granting Air Operator Certificates (AOC), failed to meet aviation safety standards, according to the ICAO's audit of the department's performance.
Regarding the European Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) upcoming announcement on the issue on Thursday, ACM Prajin said Thailand will do its best to prepare for checks by EASA, and is ready to act on the agency's recommendations.
He added that the EASA may not announce any additional measures for Thailand to boost aviation safety standards or it may send officials to conduct a pre-audit inspection of aviation safety.
As for preparations for checks by the US Federal Aviation Administration this month, ACM Prajin said they will take five days and if any concerns are raised, they must be addressed within 65 days.
Failing to solve the concerns within the deadline will result in a downgrade of Thai aviation safety standards from Category 1 to Category 2, the minister said.
ACM Prajin also said one key safety concern raised by the ICAO is the country's aviation law, which needs to be brought on par with international standards.
