Thailand admits 'urgent' need to improve aviation safety

[indothai]

Thai's lack discipline. It will take a national disaster for them to finally realize that they lack discipline.

The sad thing is, rarely have I seen a Thai adult teaching discipline. It is not rewarded or praised here.

[kannot]

Well I guess its a start now all they need to do is address the education system and corruption

[recycler]

"Thailand was warned about its aviation management after an earlier ICAO audit in 2005"

Flying Thainess.... keeping safety warnings in a drawer for 10 years!

[wensiensheng]

THe Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself. He should have said " I am serious about this, HUMAN LIVES ARE AT STAKE".

What is a bit of lost revenue compared to a single human life?

Thailands reputation will continue to suffer internationally whilst it's head of government continues to display such callous regard to human life.

Edited March 31, 2015 by wensiensheng

[ekkamai]

Sounds like an impossible task to live up to higher standard in a short period. Perhaps Thailand just isn't good enough. Then they should hire people from other countriers that have proven they can.

"in a short period.."?

They were told to fix it back in 2005.

What really worries me is, that ICAO seems to have turned a blind eye for 10 years!!!

[AlQaholic]

"Thai authorities have set up two new committees to tackle the concerns and will send teams to South Korea, China, Australia and Germany to discuss the issues following a trip to Japan late last week, Prajin added"

I am sure they will learn a lot of stuff during those trips.....NOOOT!. why not just learn pasa ankrit and study the @#$%@#$ manuals.

[AlQaholic]

Thai's lack discipline. It will take a national disaster for them to finally realize that they lack discipline.

The sad thing is, rarely have I seen a Thai adult teaching discipline. It is not rewarded or praised here.

There is no such thing as a Thai adult....

Thais are giddy happy teenagers until they turn 30 or so....after that they are just old, tired and lazy.

[recycler]

Sounds like an impossible task to live up to higher standard in a short period. Perhaps Thailand just isn't good enough. Then they should hire people from other countriers that have proven they can.

"in a short period.."?

They were told to fix it back in 2005.

What really worries me is, that ICAO seems to have turned a blind eye for 10 years!!!

No, they told the ICAO for 10 years that "it's on the procedure"...

And there is proof of that as they have facebook pictures on various locations in the world observing how it's done in pleasant desitnations.

[phil2407]

They were warned in 2005 to improve - what have they been doing for the last 10 years and if improvements haven't been made where has the yearly budgets for a decade gone? They only seem to act when direct action is taken against them - as major loss of face and bad for the economy - not safety concerns ?

[Jiggo]

Seems to me that the crucial concern is about Don Maeuang, as they are targeting "low cost airlines"....could be wrong?

[baboon]

It is just a matter of time before Europe and North America will ban all flights from Thai airlines to their regions.

They did it with the Indonesian airlines several years back and even Garuda was banned for a while for flying into Europe but what stuns me is that the Asian airports are starting it.

I am just waiting for the usual characters to accuse ICAO of meddling in Thailand's sovereign affairs. Second prize goes to the first one who blames Thaksin...

[gchurch259]

First; IACO knowing for over a decade there was a problem should have been making Annual Audit/Inspections.

Second; It is in the culture here to not want outside help. They know it all !!

Third; If you have a problem with a snake you cut it's head off, some one needs to move on over this. I understand from this article that the Ministries attempts with the former government fell on deaf ears, my guess no money in it for them!!

How would one be able to communicate with the Good General/PM ? I am a member of a group, Aviation Operational Solutions that has staff, retired from a US Airlines that has experience in every aspect of Airline Operations and Regulatory Compliance, any one have a suggestion ??

[bruceybonus]

THe Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself. He should have said " I am serious about this, HUMAN LIVES ARE AT STAKE".

What is a bit of lost revenue compared to a single human life?

Thailands reputation will continue to suffer internationally whilst it's head of government continues to display such callous regard to human life.

Money is far more important than lives, surely you know that by now!

[tigermonkey]

"Thai authorities have set up two new committees to tackle the concerns and will send teams to South Korea, China, Australia and Germany to discuss the issues following a trip to Japan late last week, Prajin added"

I am sure they will learn a lot of stuff during those trips.....NOOOT!. why not just learn pasa ankrit and study the @#$%@#$ manuals.

One of the central issues is that Thailand opted not to attend the last sessions of ICAO training. These sessions are required to update and certify the personnel from each country, who then pass their expertise along to those within the country, such as airlines. However, Thai personnel continue to pass themselves off as ICAO certified, which they are not.

[klauskunkel]

When he asked the department’s director general what had happened, he said he was told the department had proposed to restructure its organisation, amend its laws and increase its manpower and budget, but the process did not happen because of ignorance.

Ignorance is bliss, and it's a blissful country.

[gchurch259]

It is just a matter of time before Europe and North America will ban all flights from Thai airlines to their regions.

They did it with the Indonesian airlines several years back and even Garuda was banned for a while for flying into Europe but what stuns me is that the Asian airports are starting it.

I am just waiting for the usual characters to accuse ICAO of meddling in Thailand's sovereign affairs. Second prize goes to the first one who blames Thaksin...

Why blame Thaksin ? Excuse me, was he PM ten years ago when all this started ? First thing any PM does is put competent people in place to run these agencies, and then hold them accountable.

There are plenty of retired airline and safety inspectors who could come in here a straighten this out in under 6 months and on at a reasonable cost with out flying to other countries on taxpayers junkets.

[NanLaew]

Its not just ''AVIATION SAFETY'' Thailand needs to re-vamp, ''SAFETY'' in General at all levels is LACKING..

Waaaahhh!. Waaa-aaaaahhhh! I want my Nanny (state)!!!!!

[mike324]

Don't foreign airlines that land for overnight also use the local services to maintain the aircraft? Does that also mean they are getting substandard maintenance services? Not sure how many companies that does maintenance on the ground, but I would imagine Thai offering their services to partner airlines? I may be wrong.

[metisdead]

26) The Bangkok Post and Phuketwan do not allow quotes from their news articles or other material to appear on Thaivisa.com. Neither do they allow links to their publications. Posts from members containing quotes from or links to Bangkok Post or Phuketwan publications will be deleted from the forum.

One post in violation of the above has been removed.

[kinmaew]

Unfortunately when there are billions of dollars in capital involved, they are not able to "Flee the scene" in front of the international community. Just need to extend this to the rest of their society = free from repression and better standards of living.

[webfact]

Transport Min sets up 2 panels to fix aviation glitches in 6-8 months

BANGKOK, 31 March 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has decided to establish two committees to solve problems in the Department of Civil Aviation and to handle impacts from the international aviation regulator’s concerns over Thailand’s safety standards.

Following the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s voicing of concerns over the safety standards of the Thai aviation industry based on its previous examinations, Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong stated that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has designated the matter as a national issue. He pointed out that appropriate actions need to be taken in a timely manner otherwise the nation’s economy and tourism could be damaged.

Therefore, the Transport Ministry has resolved to set up two working committees, one of which is to oversee the tackling of the problem at its root cause, particularly the restructuring of the Department of Civil Aviation, employment of more qualified specialists, increasing of budgets and amendment of laws. Chaired by Minister Prajin, the committee will convene on a weekly basis to follow up on the progress made and will submit a report to the ICAO every two weeks.

The other committee will be responsible for mitigating the effects of the ICAO’s downgrade of Thailand’s safety rating. It will coordinate with all sectors in creating an understanding with the international community concerning Thailand’s commitment to improving its air safety standards.

The setting up of the two committees is due to be proposed to the Prime Minister for approval within 45-60 days. The Ministry of Transport has expressed confidence that the issue surrounding aviation safety will be resolved within 6-8 months.

The ICAO’s safety concerns have prompted Japan as well as China and South Korea to issue a ban on all charter flights from Thailand. Last week, the Transport Ministry already dispatched officials to clarify the situation to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. More clarifications are to be made to other countries, including China, South Korea, Australia and Germany.


-- NNT 2015-03-31

[Lupatria]

How big is the Thai rug?

sweep under rug.JPG

Forget the rug- look under the mattress

[trogers]

It is just a matter of time before Europe and North America will ban all flights from Thai airlines to their regions.

They did it with the Indonesian airlines several years back and even Garuda was banned for a while for flying into Europe but what stuns me is that the Asian airports are starting it.

I am just waiting for the usual characters to accuse ICAO of meddling in Thailand's sovereign affairs. Second prize goes to the first one who blames Thaksin...

Couldn't be Thaksin. He bragged that he could solve Bangkok traffic snarls and make everyone rich in six months.

If he was PM in 2005-6, problems would have been corrected in six months too.

[Nbarch]

The meeting to resolve the ICAO air safety problems probably went a bit like this.....

LORETTA: I agree. It's action that counts, not words, and we need action now.

COMMANDOS: Hear! Hear!

REG: You're right. We could sit around here all day talking, passing resolutions, making clever speeches. It's not going to shift one Roman soldier!

FRANCIS: So, let's just stop gabbing on about it. It's completely pointless and it's getting us nowhere!

COMMANDOS: Right!

LORETTA: I agree. This is a complete waste of time.

JUDITH: They've arrested Brian!

REG: What?

COMMANDOS: What?

JUDITH: They've dragged him off! They're going to crucify him!

REG: Right! This calls for immediate discussion!

COMMANDO #1: Yeah.

JUDITH: What?!

COMMANDO #2: Immediate.

COMMANDO #1: Right.

LORETTA: New motion?

REG: Completely new motion, eh, that, ah-- that there be, ah, immediate action--

FRANCIS: Ah, once the vote has been taken.

REG: Well, obviously once the vote's been taken. You can't act another resolution till you've voted on it...

(Apologies to the more sensible Monty Python)

[Tonawatchee]

Why not hire foreign experts to deal with the skyrocketing traffic deaths here?

[webfact]

China joins ban on new flights by Thai carriers
By Coconuts Bangkok


TOP: A Thai Airways Boeing 777-200 at Suvarnabhumi Airport in a February, 2012 file photo. Photo: David McElvey

BANGKOK: -- Joining South Korea and Japan, China has announced it will stop Thai airlines from scheduling new flights due to concerns raised by international aviation inspectors, officials said yesterday.

The announcement comes as Thailand moves into a busy travel period during the Songkran holidays, with about 100 charters to Japan and about 30,000 tickets affected, according to Somchai Piputwat of the Department of civil Aviation.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/03/31/china-joins-ban-new-flights-thai-carriers


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-03-31

[clockman]

Thainess, they have known since 2005 about the problem!

[rubl]

These people simply are not proactive, are they? Always "react" after the lights are turned on.

How impatient you are. The earlier ICAO audit was only ten years ago

Mind you, only Thaksin was busy with aviation with his 'cracks' in the runways. Then we had the coup, Surayut with a charter, Samak cooking, Somchai trying to help his brother-in-law, Abhisit having fun with red shirts, Yingluck busy in photo-ops and PM Prayut concerned about mini skirts. There simply hasn't been time to do something about aviation safety

[maidee]

thai airways and many "normal" thais , act like that...

do nothing, unless someone tells them

see it everyday with our maid ...

there is work to do, just some simple cleaning of this or that , that is dirty

if you don't write it down on a piece of paper, she just ignores it ...

[Rorri]

These people simply are not proactive, are they? Always "react" after the lights are turned on.

A HUGE loss of face on this one...huge... and what did it take, well a few Thai airlines banned, in some countries, and in others put under strict requirements.... a total failure for Thailand. They can hide the truth from Thais, but not from the world... same for many other issues.