AoT insists on standard searches of people, objects

BANGKOK, Aug 11 (TNA) --Airports of Thailand (AoT) assures that searches on people and objects to board airplanes at its airports meet the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It also warns of imprisonment and a fine against those trying to evade the searches. Regarding ICAO’s universal security audit program in Thailand, AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said searches of people and objects to go aboard planes were one important area for the audit and the screenings at AOT airports complied with the Air Navigation Act, regulations of the civil aviation board and ICAO. Airport authorities must separate suspicious objects for examination and any people or objects that fail to meet AoT safety standards cannot board a plane. Mr Nitinai also said that under the Air Navigation Act, anyone who escaped from such searches were be liable to a jail term of up to one year and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht. The air transport of liquid, gel, sprays and the likes must comply with regulations that took effect on June 1, 2007. The regulations were in line with ICAO’s safety standard, he said. As a member state of ICAO, Thailand was seriously observing the organization’s safety standard to ensure safety for parties using Thailand as their aviation base, Mr Nitinai said. Also, his remarks apparently followed a complaint from a well-known lawyer who was recently banned at Don Mueang airport from carrying two tubes of facial cream aboard a flight to Chiang Rai province while he was being late for the trip. (TNA)