Higher standards coming for civil aviation

By The Nation

 

Chula Sukmanop

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) plans to introduce “Standards towards Sustainability” with the focus on upgrading safety standards – including in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). Director-general Chula Sukmanop briefed reporters on the plans on Thursday (January 15) at a Bangkok hotel.

 

He noted the increasing use of drones now that they are highly affordable and often carry advanced technology. 

 

But their common use poses risks to the safety of communities and commercial flight operations, and to individual privacy.

 

HEMS, in contrast, offer the advantage of quicker access to accident victims and hospital patients in critical condition.

 

Chula said CAAT needs to boost its operational efficiency by “promoting its core values to development in the same direction”.

 

It will do so by upgrading standard to match those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and developing a regulatory system consistent with international standards, he said.

 

Chula reported that it’s estimated Thai air transport carried 165.11 million passengers in 2019, an increase of 2.2 per cent from 2018. Of these, 76.2 million were domestic travellers, a 3.1-per-cent decline from 2018, whereas foreign passengers totalled 88.91 million, up 7.3 per cent.

 

“These figures suggest a slowdown in the Thai aviation industry,” he said, “so it’s vital that we upgrade our standards to keep pace with incoming changes and make civil aviation development sustainable in every respect.”

 

CAAT, a state agency overseen by the Ministry of Transport, is in charge of regulating, promoting and developing the civil aviation sector. 

 

Its mission includes supporting robust growth among operators and increasing their international competitiveness.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380667

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-16

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’It will do so by upgrading standard to match those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and developing a regulatory system consistent with international standards, he said.’

 

So he admits that Thailand is not applying the ICAO standards now - isn’t that a bit scary?

Haven't been for a while as I recall; wasn't there a kerfuffle about not being able to fly to certain countries because maintenance was MIA a few years ago? That all went very quiet, presumably after brown envelopes were handed over.

 

There seems to be no shortage of incompetent-looking Thais to get on their hind legs and pontificate though, so we can all draw some important lessons from that. Not sure the lessons are worth learning but they all seem proud enough. I wouldn't be but then I'm not Thai and I don't therefore lead the world in very much.

 

 

Sounds like time to form another committee.

No surprises that Thailand is behind international standards.....it was published just recently that Thai pilots have trouble gaining employment internationally due to training programs not to standard...The CAAT need a really hard kick....

Thailand is one of the worlds busiest tourist and transit hub...and the civil aviation industry here trails global standards!

12 hours ago, damascase said:

So he admits that Thailand is not applying the ICAO standards now - isn’t that a bit scary?

Like all safety issues in Thailand they never meet international standards, even in aviation!

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Like all safety issues in Thailand they never meet international standards, even in aviation!

Why should they meet International Standards? They are Thais ain't they? They Know Best.  

Standards-Where?

On 1/16/2020 at 7:09 PM, snoop1130 said:

introduce “Standards towards Sustainability” with the focus on upgrading safety standards

How about meeting minimum standards such as a HIGH priority to build the 3rd runway that was originally budgeted in 2012. Since 2014 the airport has been operating beyond its capacity for number of passenger flights and increasing every year since. Yet thus far airport focus has been on expanding terminals and upgrading taxiways and aircraft parking areas.

The lack of safety standards is not at all surprising.

 

...but what are the drones for? Slid that in with no explanation...

 

"He noted the increasing use of drones now that they are highly affordable and often carry advanced technology. "