Troubled airline, unidentified, to be grounded
As part of plan to get red flag safety warning lifted for Thai airlines, some airlines will be grounded due to financial problems.
As part of plan to get red flag safety warning lifted for Thai airlines, some airlines will be grounded due to financial problems.
INTERNATIONAL AIR SAFETY REGULATION
Troubled airline, unidentified, to be grounded
24/01/2017
Amornrat Mahitthirook
A Thai-registered airline facing a financial crisis will soon be grounded and no longer offering flights, either temporarily for a period of time or perhaps permanently.
From a legal standpoint, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) plans to suspend or revoke the Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) of a Thai- registered airline which allows the airline to fly its planes and sell tickets for flights.
An inspection by the agency found the airline was previously owned by a Thai operator who sold his shares to a Chinese firm which in turn used the Thai company as its nominee to run the business.
The name of the airline was withheld.
This is according to CAAT director Chula Sukmanop speaking yesterday after a meeting of a sub-committee to address civil aviation issues, chaired by Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday.
THAI GOVT INSPECTION OF AIRLINES OFFERING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
The plan to suspend or revoke the AOCs came after the CAAT launched an inspection of all airlines operating international flights.
This inspection took place prior to re- issuing the airlines with AOCs in accordance with the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO GROUNDING
Mr Chula said airlines facing problems including financial woes risk having their permission to operate flights revoked.
The airline facing the grounding was one of three required to propose a financial rehabilitation plan to the agency. The airline submitted their plan but failed to carry through with it, he said.
However, the CAAT must wait for another inspection this month before deciding whether to suspend or revoke the airline's AOCs as it would affect passengers and its business operation.
In the event not many passengers are affected, its AOCs could be revoked immediately following the inspection as the passengers could be transferred to other airlines.
SECOND AIRLINE CALLED IN FOR A WARNING
Mr Chula said a second airline which faced a similar financial problem has also been called in to meet the CAAT after its employees lodged complaints.
The airline would be instructed to devise a financial rehab plan as an initial solution, he added.
PLAN TO GET RED FLAG SAFETY WARNING LIFTED
As for issuing new AOCs, the certificates were expected to be granted to nine out of 23 Thai- registered airlines by June as part of plans to get the ICAO to lift its ''red flag'' safety warning over Thai airlines which was issued earlier.
The warning indicated significant safety concerns for Thailand's failure to meet standards in regulating aviation businesses.
THE NINE OUT OF 23 THAI-REGISTERED THAT WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES NOW
X The nine airlines that will receive AOCs now are Thai Airways International (THAI), Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, K-Mile Air, Orient Thai Airlines, AirAsia X, NokScoot and Thai Smile.
The approval of AOCs would be submitted to the ICAO so it could conduct an inspection.
The remaining 14 airlines were expected to receive AOCs in January next year.
"We don't have to wait for all 23 airlines to be granted AOCs."
"The ICAO's inspection can be launched after AOCs are issued to the first nine airlines which are the main aviation operators flying 70% of the international flights (out of Thailand)," he said.
STEPS IN ISSUING CERTIFICATES
Issuing the new AOCs involves five steps, the final one requiring the CAAT director to consider the opinions of specialists in aviation operations, airworthiness, cabin safety and dangerous goods.
Mr Chula said THAI, Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia were at the fourth step involving inspections of aircraft performance and field tests.
Nok Air, K-Mile Air and Orient Thai Airlines are at the third step which is aviation document inspection.
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