Thailand's CAAT kicks off audits to address 'red flag'

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has revived airline inspections and re-issuing Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) to Thai-registered airlines in hopes it will lead to the lifting of the "red flag" raised by the UN aviation regulator. THAI, Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia are the first three airlines that have applied for an audit as part of the process, which gives priority to the 28 airlines operating international flights. Transport Minister Arkhom Term­­­pitta­ya­paisit said re-issuing AOCs is among issues to be considered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) when it assesses the country's aviation standards and decides if the "significant safety concerns" tag should be removed. <br/>A lack of qualified staff to issue AOCs is among the concerns. The CAAT has a plan to expedite certificate reissuing. The process is expected to be completed by January. <br/>