ICAO gives Thailand 4 more months to sort out safety standards

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RED FLAG
ICAO gives Thailand 4 more months to sort out safety standards
ACHARA DEBOONME
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) yesterday continued to red-flag Thailand over safety standards and gave the country another four months to tackle this issue.

Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong admitted the country had not passed the ICAO safety standards yet, but vowed to continue the hard work to get the red flag removed as soon as possible.

Thai Airways International, meanwhile, issued a statement reassuring its customers worldwide that the airline had consistently adhered to the highest international safety standards and was not affected by the red flag.

In February this year, the ICAO told Thailand it had significant concerns (SSC) regarding aviation safety standards.

Prajin said yesterday the ICAO had told Thai officials in Canada that the Kingdom had until November this year to continue tackling the issue before the next evaluation.

"In my opinion, it looks like we failed this time," said Prajin, adding that aviation authorities in other countries might consider cancelling flights operating from Thailand due to the red flag.

Thai-registered airlines will likely face a loss of goodwill, higher operating costs and increasing competition from foreign carriers. In addition, Thai carriers can expect an increase in costs from higher aircraft lease rates, more stringent maintenance covenants, and surges in insurance premiums.

The industry will likely see increased competition from foreign carriers that may launch new routes to capture under-served passengers travelling to and from Thailand. Thai carriers may also lose personnel to foreign counterparts looking to boost their own manpower.

Of all the sub-segments in the airline industry, charter carriers will lose out the most as their operating licences are issued on a case-by-case basis, while full service airlines and medium-haul low-cost carriers will experience some setbacks to their growth plans from an inability to fly new routes or increase flight frequencies. Domestic low-cost carriers will likely be the least affected.

According to the ICAO website, Thailand had secured 76.19 per cent for aviation legislation while getting only 46.15 per cent for organisation of government agencies to ensure safety standards, which is below the global average.

As for operations, the country got 64.84 per cent, slightly above the global average of 66.24 per cent. Earlier, the ICAO said the significant safety concerns meant that there were questions about the ability of the state to properly oversee airlines under its jurisdiction.

As for other aspects, comprising airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodromes, Thailand got higher scores than the global average.

Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.

Meanwhile, Thai Airways International president Charamporn Jotikasthira said: "A significant safety concern [as cited by the ICAO] does not necessarily indicate a particular safety deficiency in the air-navigation service providers, airlines [air operators], aircraft or aerodromes but, rather, indicates that the state is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO standards."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/ICAO-gives-Thailand-4-more-months-to-sort-out-safe-30262658.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-19

[bangkokfrog]

Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.

What a wondersful set of countries to be grouped with !!!

[graemeaylward]

Since when has 64.84% been slightly above 66.24%! No wonder air safety is at risk with maths like this!

[khwaibah]

Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.

What a wondersful set of countries to be grouped with !!!

All high quality tourists.

[Gutterboy]

Ok everyone relax we have another 4 months to do nothing at all then panic on the very last day.

[JOC]

>>Thai-registered airlines will likely face a loss of goodwill, higher operating costs and increasing competition from foreign carriers. In addition, Thai carriers can expect an increase in costs from higher aircraft lease rates, more stringent maintenance covenants, and surges in insurance premiums.<< Quote

As per usual it is all about money, not a word about (improved) safety....................

[NongKhaiKid]

ICAO is failing badly in the application of its own charter and needs to learn that a red flag will mean nothing here.

LoS only understands the big stick when it's actually applied so what's actually going to happen at the end of November if there's no acceptable improvement, more hot air and another extension ?

[baboon]

ICAO is failing badly in the application of its own charter and needs to learn that a red flag will mean nothing here.

LoS only understands the big stick when it's actually applied so what's actually going to happen at the end of November if there's no acceptable improvement, more hot air and another extension ?

Yes, quite probably. That, or a suitcase full of used notes to a senior ICAO official or two.

[Maggusoil]

ICAO is failing badly in the application of its own charter and needs to learn that a red flag will mean nothing here.

LoS only understands the big stick when it's actually applied so what's actually going to happen at the end of November if there's no acceptable improvement, more hot air and another extension ?

They must have friends in high places

[bamnutsak]

Ok everyone relax we have another 4 months to do nothing at all then panic on the very last day.

Panic sets in on the last day +1.

[Peabody]

_{Is there any category/rating LOWER than "red flag". Anybody know what this means in the real world?}

Nice spin "...given 4 more months..". Sounds like ICAO are merely saying another inspection in 4 months

[casualbiker]

The red flag has been in place since 2005!

Over 10 years to sort things out!

And at least 4 different governments.

[scorecard]

>>Thai-registered airlines will likely face a loss of goodwill, higher operating costs and increasing competition from foreign carriers. In addition, Thai carriers can expect an increase in costs from higher aircraft lease rates, more stringent maintenance covenants, and surges in insurance premiums.<< Quote

As per usual it is all about money, not a word about (improved) safety....................

And I repeat the comments I have made before:

- checking that the photo to ensure the passenger at the gate is the person named on the boarding pass is still very very cursory, and on some flights, especially If they are late there is no check, they just take the boarding pass.

One budget airline gate team at Chiang Mai airport gets challenged regularly by Thai passengers 'why aren't you checking.....?' The standard response is to ignore the passengers.

There is one older Thai lady I see regularly who asks them again and again 'why aren't you checking the photo?', the gate team now have a standard response to this question ' oh it's not needed, if you want it checked you have to check it yourself'.

Not even logical and it displays that the airline is not educating their staff.

[AlQaholic]

"Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay."

Thailand is in Good company among the bottom scrap of the world.

[Stargeezr]

If the Thai domestic airline companies do not get their act together, they will stay on

the Red Flag status, and the word will get out that they are not to be trusted.

It does eventually affect their operations if enough foreigners start to take other

more trusted airlines for their travels! If people take the risks and they get killed

then other people like me will not have a lot of sympathy for any of them.

I have a list of airlines that I will not fly on, and I have been lucky enough not to have to take

any of them so far. I also have a list of countries that I will not fly to as well, and unless I

get on a flight that gets hi-jacked I think I will never fly to any of them.

Since I have become a senior I have become even more picky about many things.

If any of your arm chair critics ever see any of this lax habits at the airports that

you use such as Chiang Mai, bring it up with the management at the airport, get their name and business

card if they have one, or at least name and phone number. If nothing is done, then pass the

name onto ICAO, and let them know that the airline is not improving, that is the only way that

any improvement ever gets done around the world. Do not just bash the Country or the Airline unless

you are willing to get involved!

[Praematura]

"As for operations, the country got 64.84 per cent, slightly above the global average of 66.24 per cent."

What?

[IMA_FARANG]

I wish that an actual list of discrepancies would be published.

I,for one, would like to know if the discrepancies noted were mainly in administrative areas or in such areas as safety training problems and maintenance documentation record keeping and safety checks.

[Jimlove]

Sounds like ICAO are totally ball less - all show no consequence

[Orac]

Sounds like ICAO are totally ball less - all show no consequence

To a certain degree they are as they have little ability to actually punish. On the other hand organisations such as FAA and EASA do act on recommendations from ICAO and will now audit and take decisions based on their findings.

[rijit]

rijit

[gandalf12]

ICAO is failing badly in the application of its own charter and needs to learn that a red flag will mean nothing here.

LoS only understands the big stick when it's actually applied so what's actually going to happen at the end of November if there's no acceptable improvement, more hot air and another extension ?

It will have meaning as they have the landing rights in countries suspender.

[ThaiKneeTim]

This makes me laugh. Pre 9/11 the USA was one of the most lax countries with regard to security on domestic flights, and the chaos caused in airports trying to upgrade security caused much frustration. Security checkpoints in corridors were causing anger, frustration and missed flights. My personal experience in JFK and LAX has made me rethink booking flights to avoid transiting through US airports.

Heathrow has had airside transfers for many years, Paris and Amsterdam built new airports to ensure a smooth transition between international flights, without the need to pass through immigration and customs, as I had to do when I last passed through LAX. A 4 hour layover should have been a relaxed affair, not the sweaty panic and swear word experience that I actually had.

My experience of Thai domestic flights indicates that security isn't taken seriously, as if they hadn't heard of 9/11.

It's been a few years since I worked on airfields (ICAO compliant ones at any rate!) but I have seen a lot worse than Thai airports. Just International Airport was so lax that locals took short cuts across the main runway, and the metal detector arch in the departure lounge wasn't even plugged in, with no attempt to disguise the fact.

Thailand needs to bring in an outside agency to buck up standards, trying to oversee low standards with low standards isn't going to work.

[Srikcir]

ICAO is failing badly in the application of its own charter and needs to learn that a red flag will mean nothing here.

LoS only understands the big stick when it's actually applied so what's actually going to happen at the end of November if there's no acceptable improvement, more hot air and another extension ?

It's not so much whether anything will happen in Thailand to correct ICAO deficiensies. It's what OTHER NATIONS will perceive.

The ICAO has no enforcement power but its nation members can bring a lot of pressure and SANCTIONS against foreign carriers that cannot meet ICAO standards and procedures. Recall that several ICAO nations "requested" the Thai government to inspect its airworthiness, operations and maintenance procedures, and the Thai government complied. International air travel is a two-way lane.

If the Junta wants to play its national pride card and ignore ICAO, it's welcome to do so. But it can also say goodbye to foreign air travel and tourists.

[djlest]

Here is a photo i took 4 days ago on NOK AIR flight DD9515 on the 15 June to Don Muang.

You can see very clearly that one of the Engine panel Quick release straps is seen to be still open, it was not just left open it was actually broken and whoever chose to fix it thought that some Duct tape also seen stuck over the surrounding area would suffice???

The duct tape has clearly fallen off quite a while ago, Yet still no NOK Aircraft technicians have bothered to fix it, nor seem to care that a piece of Duct tape is compliant to International Avionics Industry standards and can be used in place of a clip?

Perhaps those responsible also don't consider that NOKAIR customers can gaze out of the Window and see the fantastic standards of Maintenance and safety that Thailand and its Aircraft technicians or Civil Avionics Authority adhere too?

Is this any wonder that the ICAO are not happy with Thailands Safety Standards? But more importantly, what about its National Safety standards for Flights?

I'm posting this to hopefully circulate back to the ICAO - the problem is not just with International flights but DOMESTIC Thai Flights seem to be in an even worse state.

I really don't like posting negative comments that can destroy a companies reputation or damage its income or employees, but on this occasion safety and lives are involved.

I did consider complaining directly to the NOK Airline at first, but i know it wouldn't do anything or it would never get fixed without a public outcry.
If the THAIVISA staff want to make this Post a sticky or report further on it, to get this problem fixed, then please do.

Finally, i would like to add that i am a time served Aircraft technician of over 20 years for Airbus and Hawker, Not only does this broken clip create drag, but if the panel lifts and air gets under, well its a no brainier that it will rip the entire panel off. However, even if that does't happen this kind of practice or workmanship is just not acceptable on an Aircraft carrying thousands of Civilians everyday. the fact that it is a Budget airline is also no excuse!

[Cake Monster]

This was probably the worst move the ICAO could have made.

Now, when the time comes to 3 Months and 26 days, the Thais will assume that its OK to carry on with asking for extensions, instead of dealing with the issue.

[harrry]

Here is a photo i took 4 days ago on NOK AIR flight DD9515 on the 15 June to Don Muang.

You can see very clearly that one of the Engine panel Quick release straps is seen to be still open, it was not just left open it was actually broken and whoever chose to fix it thought that some Duct tape also seen stuck over the surrounding area would suffice???

The duct tape has clearly fallen off quite a while ago, Yet still no NOK Aircraft technicians have bothered to fix it, nor seem to care that a piece of Duct tape is compliant to International Avionics Industry standards and can be used in place of a clip?

Perhaps those responsible also don't consider that NOKAIR customers can gaze out of the Window and see the fantastic standards of Maintenance and safety that Thailand and its Aircraft technicians or Civil Avionics Authority adhere too?

Is this any wonder that the ICAO are not happy with Thailands Safety Standards? But more importantly, what about its National Safety standards for Flights?

I'm posting this to hopefully circulate back to the ICAO - the problem is not just with International flights but DOMESTIC Thai Flights seem to be in an even worse state.

I really don't like posting negative comments that can destroy a companies reputation or damage its income or employees, but on this occasion safety and lives are involved.

I did consider complaining directly to the NOK Airline at first, but i know it wouldn't do anything or it would never get fixed without a public outcry.

If the THAIVISA staff want to make this Post a sticky or report further on it, to get this problem fixed, then please do.

Finally, i would like to add that i am a time served Aircraft technician of over 20 years for Airbus and Hawker, Not only does this broken clip create drag, but if the panel lifts and air gets under, well its a no brainier that it will rip the entire panel off. However, even if that does't happen this kind of practice or workmanship is just not acceptable on an Aircraft carrying thousands of Civilians everyday. the fact that it is a Budget airline is also no excuse!

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Replied to and countered in the other thread here you copied and pasted this to when you made it.

[harrry]

An unusually honest response from Thailand.

I think it is the first time I have ever heard them say publicly (or even privately) that they failed at something.

"The times they are a changing" as the old song said.

[cloghead]

Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.

What a wondersful set of countries to be grouped with !!!

Haven't you heard??? Thailand is the new Somalia...

[harrry]

Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.

What a wondersful set of countries to be grouped with !!!

Haven't you heard??? Thailand is the new Somalia...

The hub of piracy....and will we be inundated b a lot of British women sex tourists?

[gk10002000]

So what happens if Thailand does not sort out the issues to the satisfaction of the ICAO? I don't see any penalty. lack of certification, grounding of airlines, etc?