Thai editorial: Aviation ban a blessing in disguise

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Aviation ban a blessing in disguise
The Nation

Sanctions on Thai airlines over safety fears should spur efforts to overhaul our chronically inefficient bureaucracy

Turning a blind eye to safety is a disaster in the making. And that disaster need not necessarily mean human casualties.
In the case of Thailand's aviation industry, the sirens are sounding after the decisions by Japan and South Korea to ban new flights by Thai carriers.

The precautionary measure comes in response to Thailand's failed effort to catch up with international standards. However, the really alarming point is not the decisions by the two Asian countries, but that the problems have been known about for more than a decade.

That Japan and South Korea are refusing new flights from Thailand has huge financial ramifications. The short-term impact is on the airlines, including the national carrier Thai Airways International, whose extra flights to the two countries during the long Songkran holidays are now grounded. Yet the long-term effect could be far worse, with the country's Bt400-billion aviation industry at risk of losing competitiveness. The international perception that Thailand's safety standards are below par is expected to rebound on the country's trillion-baht tourism industry, not to mention its ambitious plans to become an aviation hub in Southeast Asia.

Perhaps we should be thanking Japan and South Korea. This country's failure to meet standards demanded by the International Civil Aviation Organisation's audit might not have caught the attention of Thai authorities had it not caused financial losses. Shockingly, Thailand's aviation regulator has been aware of all of the concerns raised by the ICAO for more than a decade. This time the resulting ban, which made international headlines, has finally prompted action from Thai authorities, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pledging to use his near-absolute power to resolve the problems speedily. And the seriousness of those problems can no longer be papered over.

The ICAO's alert on safety measures has exposed structural weakness in Thailand's Civil Aviation Department, which somehow escaped the eyes of previous administrations.

The country's aviation regulator employs just 12 officials to monitor the 600,000 flights that take off every year from Thai soil. There are also fears that this meagre workforce has not kept pace with advances in aviation technology.

A former high-ranking aviation official has pointed to an insufficient budget, which has caused staff incompetence. Previous governments have ignored the problems, failing to foresee they would eventually bring a ban against Thai carriers expanding their operations overseas.

Now, the deteriorating safety situation has reached a critical point. It doesn't help that the Civil Aviation Department is accused of harbouring a conflict of interests in its dual role as the country's regulator and the operator of airports. This suggests that the root of Thailand's aviation problems goes deeper than the department, spreading into the whole bureaucratic system. Why did the country's administration let things get so bad in the first place, and why has nobody looked into the matter?

The ban following the ICAO report may be a blessing in disguise. As Thailand struggles to comply with international aviation regulations, we can take this opportunity to examine our entire bureaucratic system. Massive budgets are allocated to various government agencies every year, but the money often does not end up where it's needed most. Whether that omission is down to complacency, incompetence, corruption or a combination of all three is what we need to figure out.

This government and its successor must get to the root of bureaucratic inefficiency if the country is to head off other disasters that may be waiting for us on the road ahead. Thai aviation now faces a tough time, but at least this should prompt serious remedial action. Who knows how many other problems have been swept under the rug?

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Aviation-ban-a-blessing-in-disguise-30257199.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-01

[arthurboy]

This report from the World Bank may be of interest. Thailand - Public financial management report 2012 : improving service delivery : Overview http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/01/16400705/thailand-public-finance-management-report-improving-service-delivery-overview

[Strangebrew]

The reason budget? get real real reason is stupid people running the operation. Also Thai airways flies into LAX on the west only Because SFO requires safety checks on all aircraft landing there by certified personnel. And the reason behind standard safety checks is because of all the missile silos weapons depot military bases east and south of SFO and the bay being only place to crash land ,The ocean has about 35 mile strip of land to cross before reaching ocean. Thai Airways couldn't pass a standard safety test thus would be grounded on the spot.

[thesetat2013]

The reason budget? get real real reason is stupid people running the operation. Also Thai airways flies into LAX on the west only Because SFO requires safety checks on all aircraft landing there by certified personnel. And the reason behind standard safety checks is because of all the missile silos weapons depot military bases east and south of SFO and the bay being only place to crash land ,The ocean has about 35 mile strip of land to cross before reaching ocean. Thai Airways couldn't pass a standard safety test thus would be grounded on the spot.

I would have to disagree with you.

Not stupid people. Greed would be the reason I think. And top that with the officials feeling they are beyond reproach and the gov turning a blind eye to their operational structures. Then top it off with poor planning.

The headline is interesting though. It should read a kick in the a--- from other countries aid in motivating the Thai airline industry.

[klauskunkel]

The ICAO's alert on safety measures has exposed structural weakness in Thailand's Civil Aviation Department, which somehow escaped the eyes of previous administrations.

"somehow escaped"...

I just somehow spilled my coffee

[givenall]

I never understood why you have to put your valet into the xray. I alway keep my money in my pants when go through Thai security

[Commerce]

"Why did the country's administration let things get so bad in the first place, and why has nobody looked into the matter?"

The most ridiculous rhetorical question I've seen in some time, in a fairly decent news article.

I would answer, but even the dimmest of reporters can answer this one.

[wabothai]

Finally Thailand realizes that there is another big world out there a trillion times more powerful with global rules and regulations they have to abide by.

Keep up the good work boys, you may even become part of the family.

[Khun Paul]

The Aviation Industry has itself to blame, I assume they are fully aware of their own short-comings as for transport in general from cars to airplanes there is a distinct lack of enforcement/checks or even action to deal with the vast problems besetting Thailand, this might just wake up some, hopefully.

[Just1Voice]

Japan and S. Korea, and possibly China, just slapped Thailand across the face, hard, and said: "Here's what we think of your so-called Thainess way of doing things."

[mikiea]

The ICAO's alert on safety measures has exposed structural weakness in Thailand's Civil Aviation Department, which somehow escaped the eyes of previous administrations.

"somehow escaped"...

I just somehow spilled my coffee

when they start crashing cuz wings are falling off on landing you can be sure that someone in the thai goverment will be heard saying "BETTER CALL SAUL".....:-)

[mca]

The ICAO's alert on safety measures has exposed structural weakness in Thailand's Civil Aviation Department, which somehow escaped the eyes of previous administrations.

"somehow escaped"...

I just somehow spilled my coffee

Apparently it had slipped down the back of the sofa.

[Suffinator]

Yet more news that will circulate around the world and show what a pitiful state Thailand is in due to on-going corruption and ineptness.

I for one would avoid any Thai carrier like the plague and considering the number of lost and downed planes of late who in their right mind would book a flight with an airline which is allowed to flout international safety standards because the gov and their departments couldn't give a rats a*** about safety ... as long as that money keeps rolling in and jobs can be awarded to incompetent family members and connected friends who cares.

Maybe it's time all countries banned Thai carriers until they are able to conform to international standards.

[Bignose]

An excellent article from The Nation with the facts all there for the world to see, and due to inaction over several years the final cost to remedy the problems within the aviation industry will now be so much greater.

This has now become a huge task to modernize and improve both the national carrier and the bureaucratic agencies responsible for the industry. Like most countries the national carrier can be seen as a symbol of pride, in a small way it can be representative of a nations identity around the world, but like other national carriers (QANTAS immediately springs to mind) they have been left behind by the other, more commercially adept and savvy smaller operators.

It may just be the routes that I have traveled but the aircraft, airport staff and cabin crews look tired, the indifferent lack of investment and leadership has had an effect on moral with their being no real direction to where they are headed, there is an endemic sense of pessimism which is quite off putting, where I have a choice I normally go with another carrier, am I alone?

At least the Royal Thai aircrew still perform their duties diligently, unlike QANTAS they don't have an arrogant and skewed idea of why they are there, that in itself is a good thing.

If it can be seen as acceptable I fear some foreign help may be required to turn this industry and company around, the aviation industry as a whole is incredibly specialized and unique, only people with real knowledge and a proven track record can instigate the required changes. They may be hard to find, or impossible to employ, but change is required and required soon, time is not on anyone's side...

Edited April 1, 2015 by Bignose

[trainman34014]

Finally Thailand realizes that there is another big world out there a trillion times more powerful with global rules and regulations they have to abide by.

Keep up the good work boys, you may even become part of the family.

Believe me when i say that they are not interested in becoming 'part of the global family'. They are perfectly happy being the dis-organised, corrupt, xenophobic bunch of low IQ delinquent's that they are !

[bangon04]

Finally Thailand realizes that there is another big world out there a trillion times more powerful with global rules and regulations they have to abide by.

Keep up the good work boys, you may even become part of the family.

Believe me when i say that they are not interested in becoming 'part of the global family'. They are perfectly happy being the dis-organised, corrupt, xenophobic bunch of low IQ delinquent's that they are !

Or to re-phrase this in a more diplomatic way.... you foreigners simply do not understand the superior Thai way of doing things....so you should stop making us look bad.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Airline Safety Board: "We have been informed that your airline seldom does routine safety inspections on your aircraft"

Thai Airlines Spokesperson: "That's just not true. We routinely conduct safety inspections. As a matter of fact, we're due to conduct our next routine safety inspections in 2020" "Hey... Why are you looking at me like I'm crazy? "

[maidee]

thainess, i guess

where a ban can be turned into a blessing

lol

Q: hey, you are selling rotten rice ...

A : we know, we will try to give you less rotten, next year