Thailand to increase pilot production, expand aviation services

BANGKOK, November 27 (TNA) - Thailand will increase the number of pilots and expand its commercial aviation services, marking the 81st anniversary of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). When presiding over a ceremony to celebrate the DCA's 81st anniversary in Bangkok on Thursday, Thai Permanent Secretary for Transport Soithip Trisuddhi suggested that DCA increase aviation personnel to meet growing demand in the Thai aviation industry, along with revising the Thai Air Transport Act 1954 as an urgent task, as it is considered outdated in relation to the international aviation industry's developments. Soithip also instructed DCA to quickly finish its plan to better utilize its 28 provincial airports, covering the assurance of the airports' safe operations in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s standards. Regarding to Transport Minister Prajin Juntong's policy to turn U-Tapao Airport in the Thai East into an international airport, Soithip said that transport authorities will, early next month, discuss area allocation for commercial and security operations at the U-Tapao Airport with the Royal Thai Navy, which supervises the airport. Meanwhile, DCA Director-General Somchai Piputthawat stated that a consultancy will conclude the plan for the 28 provincial airports by the end of this year. In response to Thai pilots' complaints that foreign pilots are illegally flying planes on domestic routes and affecting their career, the DCA chief explained that the arrival of foreign pilots has violated the Thai labour law, but they solved the domestic problem of pilots shortage, noting that the law is to be amended to permit foreign pilots' local services, as the production of Thai pilots has not yet met demand for the country's growing aviation industry. (TNA)