Falling down : FAA Downgrades Thailand's Air Safety Rating

Thailand’s Air Safety does not comply with international safety standards according to Civil aviation officials in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the Kingdom of Thailand does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards.

Thailand has been assigned a Category 2 rating based on a reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority.

Thailand’s carriers will not be allowed to establish new service to the United States.

With a Category 2 rating, Thailand’s carriers can continue existing service to the United States, but can't open new destinations. — With a Category 2 rating, Thailand’s carriers can continue existing service to the United States, but can’t open new destinations.

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.

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’s Air Safety 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/.