Air Chief Marshal Manat Chawana Prayoon Appointed New Director of CAAT

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chawana Prayoon has officially been appointed as the new Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), with his term set to begin on February 17. This marks his appointment as the fourth director since the establishment of the CAAT in 2015.

 

The signing ceremony took place on February 6 at the Ministry of Transport, where Air Chief Marshal Manat was joined by Chayatham Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, and Sutthipong Kongpool, the outgoing CAAT Director. Both officials expressed their congratulations to the newly appointed director.

 

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chawana Prayoon’s appointment follows a rigorous selection process. The recruitment for the position was announced on November 8, 2024, with interviews and vision presentations held on December 23, 2024. On December 24, 2024, the CAAT’s supervisory board approved his selection.

 

Born on October 11, 1964, Air Chief Marshal Manat has a distinguished career in the Royal Thai Air Force. He has served in numerous high-ranking positions, including as the Chairman of the Air Force Advisory Group, Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff, and Director of the Air Force Intelligence Department. He has also served as Thailand’s military attaché in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo, as well as Commander of the 7th Air Division (Gripen) and Squadron Leader of Squadron 102 (F-16 ADF).

 

In addition to his military career, Air Chief Marshal Manat has held several prominent positions in the aviation industry. He served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee at Airports of Thailand (AOT), a public company, and as an independent director of the same company. He was also the head of a working group responsible for preparing Suvarnabhumi Airport and its third runway for operation. Furthermore, he has served as an expert member on the Board of the Civil Aviation Institute and as an advisor to the President of the CAAT Supervisory Board.

 

In terms of education, Air Chief Marshal Manat is an alumnus of several prestigious institutions, including Vajiravudh College, the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, the Air Force Academy, the Air War College, and the National Defence College, Class 62. He also completed the F-16 Advanced Weapons Course in the United States.

 

His extensive background in both military aviation and civilian aviation regulation makes him a highly qualified leader for the CAAT, an organisation that oversees Thailand’s aviation safety and standards.

 

Air Chief Marshal Manat’s appointment is expected to bring new leadership and strategic direction to the Civil Aviation Authority as Thailand continues to strengthen its aviation sector.

 

 

-- 2025-02-07