§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has taken following the recent announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration relating to Thailand's non-compliance with international aviation standards; [11529]
(2) if he will list those airlines registered in Thailand operating to or from United Kingdom airports. [11528]
Mr. BowlsThailand's civil aviation authority has been assessed by the Federal Aviation Administration under its international aviation safety assessment programme as "Category II, Conditional". This means that FAA inspectors found areas that in their opinion did not meet international safety standards, but services by the country's carriers continue to be permitted to the United States under heightened FAA surveillance.
We take FAA assessments into account in deciding whether to ask the Civil Aviation Authority to inspect a particular country's aircraft operating into the United Kingdom. We also take into account whether the country is participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's safety oversight programme. Thailand has been assessed by ICAO and we are awaiting the outcome of that mission.
One airline registered in Thailand operates into the United Kingdom. Thai Airways International operates a daily scheduled service into Heathrow: the Department does not currently plan to ask the CAA to ramp check its aircraft but will keep the matter under review.