ICAO to announce its decision on Thailand's safety plan today

[webfact]

AVIATION
ICAO to announce its decision on Thailand's safety plan today
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is expected to give Thailand another four months to implement measures to improve its aviation safety standards in an announcement today.

Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said the ICAO may or may not endorse Thailand's action plan from recent months to lift safety standards - or it could extend the timeline.

Thailand submitted its plan to overhaul aviation safety standards to the ICAO in April - two months after the agency expressed serious concerns on safety issues involving five airlines registered here.

So far, the Department of Civil Aviation has been restructured with two new offices set up to improve overall licensing and regulatory work for airlines registered in Thailand, while a new director-general for the department has been appointed to speed up the work.

Charamporn Jotikasthira, president of Thai Airways International, said the national flag carrier was not affected by the safety issue because it fully meets international standards and can operate anywhere.

Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said if the ICAO rejects Thailand's action plan, there will be a negative impact on the travel industry, as foreigners would be worried about the safety of Thai-registered airlines.

The TCT and its allies, including the Association of Thai Travel Agents and Thai Hotels Association, have called on the government |to solve the issue as soon as possible.

Chanin Donavanik, managing director and chief executive officer of Dusit International, said the government should focus on suspending the licences of airlines that do not meet safety standards.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/ICAO-to-announce-its-decision-on-Thailands-safety--30262554.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-18

[geriatrickid]

ICAO has to be careful. If it extends more time, it risks damaging its credibility. On the other hand, it cannot force Thailand to change. It can only encourage and support change.

[Manbing]

 

ICAO has to be careful. If it extends more time, it risks damaging its credibility. On the other hand, it cannot force Thailand to change. It can only encourage and support change.

 

Actually I believe that ICAO can force every element of the Thai aviation industry to comply with regulations. Which is the process that has just occurred.

If Thailand doesn't meet safety standards, Thai aviation companies risk being refused entry into foreign airspace/airports for failing to comply with internationally agreed benchmarks.

Sure they can't actually force compliance, but Thai aviation is going to look pretty rinky dink with an entirely domestic service.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Interesting if there is a serious incident during the expected 4 months extension after such harsh words previously.

Then again... ICAO is almost as useless as the UN

[Jim walker]

No multitasking done here thank you Top of the Junta agenda at the moment here is to ban youngsters on their motorbikes from being on the street after 10Pm and the ICAO can be sorted out after the next coupe they will make safety a big headliner Junta the only party with Thai citizens safety on its mind and promise to slash road deaths down to 1 per day

[Orac]

Bangkok Post: @icao throws 'red flag' at #Thailand for failing to solve significant #aviation safety concerns within 90-day deadline.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Orac