Aviation safety now 43% complete

BANGKOK, Nov 9 (TNA) -- Aviation safety problems in Thailand are being resolved and are now 43 per cent complete as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and should be fully completed when new business licences are issued to all 28 airlines operating to overseas, said Chula Sukmanop, director-general of Airport Department and also Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. Mr Chula said the ICAO has been informed immediately whenever a problem concerning aviation safety is solved. ICAO officials will be invited to inspect after all the problems are resolved during the first half of 2016 under the timetable set by Thailand’s Transport Ministry, he said. On a planned inspection by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Thai commercial airlines operating to the European Union (EU) member countries, Mr Chula said two airlines, including Thai Airways International, are now flying there and the EASA has been informed regularly on the progress of problems which have been solved. EASA will be in Thailand five days, starting Monday. It will be the first time that EASA officials conduct an inspection on Thai aviation industry. Results of aviation safety inspection by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) between October 27 - 28 are expected to be sent to Thailand late this month. The FAA inspection came after the ICAO red-flagged Thailand on June 18. (TNA)