FAA makes follow-up safety inspection in Thailand

The FAA is back in Thailand after a previous inspection in July revealed 35 issues and 6 major concerns. The nation was given 65 days in which to make improvements or risk being downgraded to Category 2. This would have a massive impact on the country’s aviation industry reputation after the United Nations’ aviation agency downgraded Thailand’s civil aviation safety ratings body in June. Back in March South Korea, Japan and China banned Thailand-based airlines from flying charters and new routes because of safety concerns raised in an international audit, though improvements carried out by the aviation authority have subsequently seen these restrictions lifted.
Thailand’s Transport Minister, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, confirmed that 35 problem areas identified by the US regulator had been addressed and rectified and that a decision whether or not to downgrade Thailand will come next month.
“The FAA is here to follow up our progress on six major points and 35 issues they raised,” Arkhom told reporters in Bangkok. “I’ve been told that we have solved them all,” continuing “This is an important issue that we need to solve because it will affect the Thai aviation sector in the long-term,” though he did not make it clear exactly what had been done.
Last week the Tourism Council announced they were anticipating a record 30.3 million tourists this year.