Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked his special powers to set up a new body to solve the country's civil aviation problems and upgrade the industry, to be headed by the air force commander-in-chief.
Gen Prayut, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order, on Friday issued the No. 27/2558 order based on Section 44 of the interim constitution. It was published on the Royal Gazette and took effect on the same day.
The Command Center for Resolving Civil Aviation Issues (CRCA) sets operational plans to upgrade the civil aviation industry to international standards. The Royal Thai Air Force and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) are its core units in tackling the problems.
The CRCA can order, supervise and follow up on any action to make sure the problems are solved. As well, it can proposes changes to related laws and revise or add regulations.
The CRCA can appoint air force officers to work at the Department of Civil Aviation or other agencies for not more than four years. They will still hold their air-force positions and receive extra compensation for their service at the CRCA, the order said.
Officials from other agencies can also be appointed to help the CRCA, which may appoint subcommittees as it sees fit as well.
Similarly, it can invite civil aviation specialists and approve their salaries.
Their staff will be immune from criminal, civil and disciplinary actions when performing duties honestly, indiscriminately and justifiably. But a damaged party still has the right to sue for damages under tort law.
Sources said manning the DCA with air force officers for four years will temporarily ease human resource shortages in the department. In the meantime, the DCA will have to recruit and develop its own personnel to meet future challenges.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) red-flagged Thailand in mid-June for failing to solve significant safety concerns on aviation standards within the 90-day deadline after receiving a warning.
The shortcomings identified by the ICAO involve the DCA's failures to meet aviation safety standards in regard to regulating aviation businesses and granting air operator certificates.
There was also insufficient oversight to ensure effective implementation of ICAO standards.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also gave Thailand 65 days to fix aviation shortcomings following its audit of the DCA in mid-July while the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will inspect Thai aviation standards in November.