Orient Thai, One-Two-Go grounded for 30 days

BANGKOK: -- Orient Thai Airline and its low-cost subsidiary One-Two-Go are ordered Monday to cease operations for 30 days, starting from July 22, because of the poor safety standards.

Civil Aviation Department Director-General Chaisak Angkasuwan said at the press conference on Monday that the air operator certificates to the two airline companies have been suspended.

"Orient Thai and OneTwoGo are the second aviator which faces service suspension, after Sky Aviation. The deparment will file criminal suits against their pilots, inspectors and the companies within two weeks," Chaisak said.

-- The Nation 2008-07-21

Didnt One-Two-Go announce that due to fuel costs they would suspend service for 2 months starting from July 21st - what a coincidence

Udom, the owner and person who is allegedly responsible for encouraging unsafe work practices is reportedly out of the country. How convenient, especially if charges are to be laid.

Excellent news. The unusually aggressive move by the DCA is probably an attempt IMO to divert as much attention as possible from it's own shortcomings in this incident.

There's a more complete report already at www.phuketwan.com

This may also be a factor

families sue over air crash deaths

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7516065.stm

Transport Ministry warns air carriers of stringent safety rules

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Ministry of Transport takes aviation safety seriously and any airline found to have recruited pilots with record of falsifying safety documents will be grounded.

Transport Minister Santi Prompat was responding to reports that a low-cost air carrier was found to have doctored safety standard test document.

The Civil Aviation Department suspended the service license for carrier One-Two-Go for 30 days after discovering several breaches of aviation safety regulations, including allegations that one of its pilots had tampered with safety test documents.

One-Two-Go President Udom Tantiprasongchai said the company was notified of the problems over a week ago. He said the suspension of the airline's operating license took place after the company had already announced it would cease services for 45 days due to a number of reasons, including the expensive price of fuel.

Mr. Udom said the carrier intends to use this period to rectify problems including compliance with safety regulations that will return service to safety standards once it resumes.

The One-Two-Go president said the company is investigating the Civil Aviation Department's claim that one of its pilots submitted a fraudulent safety test document and if found guilty, the pilot would face the maximum penalty.

-- TNA 2008-07-22