BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) — The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand plans to invite the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to check Thai aviation standards within September.
CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop said CAAT already sent its safety improvement plan to FAA and would invite FAA representatives to examine safety aspects of the Thai aviation industry. CAAT is ready for FAA’s visit from August to September and if CAAT pays its visit during the period, the result of its evaluation should be known in October, Mr Chula said.
If Thailand regains its Category 1 status of FAA, Thai airlines can have direct flights to the US, he said.
FAA’s Category 1 means meeting the International Civil Aviation Organizations’ standards for personnel licensing, operations and airworthiness. Category 2 gathers countries lacking laws or regulations to ensure air carriers meet minimum international standards or having deficient civil aviation authority.
Meanwhile, Sumeth Damrongchaitham, president of Thai Airways International, said the national airline had earlier have direct flights to the US but the operating result was not good. Its present fleet did not serve long-haul flights and it could sell code-share tickets together with other airlines for trips to the US, he said. (TNA)
