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WASHINGTON � The U.S. Department of Transportation�s Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that the Kingdom of Thailand does
not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety
standards and has been assigned a Category 2 rating
based on a reassessment of the country�s civil aviation authority. U.S. and Thai
aviation officials have a long-standing cooperative relationship and both our
countries work continuously to meet the challenge of ensuring aviation safety. A
Category 2 International Aviation
Safety Assessment (IASA) rating means that the country either lacks laws or
regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum
international standards, or its civil aviation authority � a body equivalent to
the FAA for aviation safety matters � is deficient in one or more areas, such
as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection
procedures. With
a Category 2 rating, Thailand�s carriers can continue existing service to the
United States. They will not be allowed to establish new service to the United
States. Thailand was assigned an initial Category 2 rating in 1996
and received a Category 1 rating in 1997. Reassessments of Thailand in 2001 and
2008 continued the Category 1 rating. A reassessment in July 2015 found that
Thailand did not meet international standards. Today�s announcement follows
ongoing discussions with the government of Thailand which concluded on October
28. As part of the FAA�s IASA program, the agency assesses the
civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that have applied
to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States,
or participate in code sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines, and
makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine
whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety
standards, not FAA regulations.
A Category 1 rating means the country�s civil aviation
authority complies with ICAO standards. With
an IASA Category 1 rating, a country�s air carriers can establish service to
the United States and carry the code of U.S. carriers. In order to maintain a
Category 1 rating, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the
United Nations� technical agency for aviation that establishes international
standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.
IASA information is posted at www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/.
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