Thai aviation agency to talk with Korea, China after Japan eases restrictions

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Aviation agency to talk with Korea, China after Japan eases restrictions
SUCHAT SRITAMA,
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- HAVING SECURED an easing of Japan's restrictions on Thai charter flights into that country, the Thai Department of Civil Aviation will talk with South Korea and China next to achieve similar cooperation.

"Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau and Thailand's Civil Aviation Department are now talking about cooperation. Both sides aim to solve aviation-safety concerns and development connectivity between the two countries. Details of the talks cannot be disclosed at the moment but an agreement is expected soon," DCA |director-general Somchai Piputvat said yesterday.

He said he would leave soon for South Korea to explain how his agency would respond to concerns expressed recently by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He is also scheduled to visit China on Wednesday for the same purpose.

The Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the DCA are to sign a memorandum of understanding on aviation cooperation and development at the conclusion of the talks. The pact will likely allow charter flights from Thailand to enter Japan for two months under certain conditions.

Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong said the JCAB would increase its scrutiny of Thai airlines. Airlines based in Thailand, both charter services and scheduled flights, will be subject to JCAB safety checks and will not be allowed to add more routes, increase frequencies, or change routes or aircraft. These restrictions will be in place until at least May 31.

Addressing shortcomings

Prajin said the two-month grace period would allow Thailand to address shortcomings in its civil-aviation system cited by the ICAO. The DCA will conduct reviews of the licences granted to Thai Smile, Thai VietJet, and Jet Asia.

He said it had been around 30 days since the DCA was given a 90-day grace period to comply with the ICAO's standards and the Transport Ministry was doing everything in could to improve the standards before the deadline 60 days from now.

China recently joined South Korea and Japan in restricting Thailand-based airlines because of the safety concerns highlighted by an international audit.

"The Transport Ministry is doing the best we can to improve the CDA's structure, personnel and regulations to increase safety confidence, while the external effort that involves China, Korea and Japan is ongoing and the progress is positive," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Aviation-agency-to-talk-with-Korea-China-after-Jap-30257303.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-03

[NongKhaiKid]

The supposed 2 month extension was announced yesterday by Thai officials and several posters said they would like to see something from the Japanese before believing the report.

Today the BP website is reporting the extension hasn't be settled and negotiations continue.

Looks like that, once again, LoS has gone off half cocked and jumped in with a positive statement on an issue that isn't settled and which involves another country.

They never learn.

Incidentally Cambodia has announced they too will be looking at Thai aviation safety. It will hurt if Cambodia takes LoS to task.

As a political commentator said, with indignation, when the temple dispute was hotting up, " Cambodia ! Who do they think they are ? "

Edited April 2, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[Ricardo]

"The DCA will conduct reviews of the licences granted to Thai Smile, Thai VietJet, and Jet Asia."

In the light of a recent event, one trusts that they will also be sending-in their inspection-team yet again, to a certain longer-established mainly-charter airline, which picked-up a temporary ban after a previous crash ?

But the DCA also need to be strengthening their whole organisation, following the ICAO's findings, which will take time to do plus money & training by better-run countries or foreign-experts from them.

The heightened on-the-spot checks in Japan or China or South Korea are only a short-term measure, to reduce disruption of travelers' plans ove the very short-term, not a final solution ! And who knows what those checks might themselves throw up ?

[Strangebrew]

So what they couldn't address in ten years there going to do in 60 days? amazing Thailand. Let me guess the outcome in 60 days we have been working hard on we made an national issue give us another 60 days it is very hard trying to bribe honest people.

[trainman34014]

If the Jap's agree to the Thai's whining they are fools. The only way to get things done properly is to keep the pressure on Thailand where it hurts....in the wallet.

[Cake Monster]

With the almost daily news reports on Thai TV, of Aircraft falling off the runways, engine failure , doors that do not close, and broken cockpit windows Etc, What country would ever allow their citizens to be put at risk by the Thai based budget airlines.

That is what this whole thing is about - safety of passengers, property, and airspace over the protesting nations, its not about money as the Thai,s would have us believe, and the fact is that these airlines are dangerous and not air-worthy, and should have all licenses revoked until an International ruling body is satisfied the airlines are safe to fly.

[deckape]

If the Thais put half as much effort into fixing the system as they do issuing press releases...

[weegee]

Let them fly there and when they land , ground them...if safety is not up to standard....like they did to the ships of shame entering into Australia, years ago. Sorted the problem out pretty quick there.

[wotsdermatter]

Many people append the words, "Amazing Thailand," to their comments, just a Strange brew did. Please, get it right. It is really, "A maze in Thailand."

[Srikcir]

I believe that Japan's restrictions also required recertification of the aircraft as well, not just corrections or revisions to Thai aviation operational procedures. Aircraft recertification is not a quick fix. If aircraft maintenance has been minimal, undocumented, or lacking then recertification may take some time. If Thailand is allowed to fly the uncertified chartered aircraft temporarily while recertification and operational reviews are ongoing, it better prayut that there are no crashes.

If the Junta tries to fabricate meaningless changes to minimize the delay for visitor arrivals and departures, these three countries will discover it. Then the Junta will come to know what it means to be on the receiving end of "You do not understand." Meanwhile, tourist revenues for Thailand are likely to falter further in the 2nd quarter of 2015.