Wed, Jan 16, 2008
Category 2 Rating Places Airlines Under Close Scrutiny
The US Federal Aviation
Administration has lumped airline operations in the Philippines,
with company they would probably rather avoid.
The Associated Press quotes the US Embassy in reporting the FAA
has the industry under close scrutiny in the Philippines for
inadequate safety standards. The so-called "Category 2" designation
puts the Philippines on a list with Bangladesh, the Ivory Coast,
Ghana and Indonesia. At this point, the only carrier in the country
serving the US is Philippine Airlines.
The Philippine government does not have a body exactly
equivalent to the FAA, or what other countries often call their
Civil Aviation Authorities. Daniel Dimagiba, the head of the
Philippine Air Transportation Office, says pending legislation
would create a CAA, and provide $24 million in funding needed for
upgrades to air traffic control infrastructure.
The Philippine congress has already approved the bill, but it is
still awaiting the signature of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
AP was unable to reach anyone in the Arroyo government for
comment.
For now, the FAA is not providing any details on what led to the
Category 2 designation, only urging US travelers to fly only on
carriers which meet the standards of the International Civil
Aviation Organization.
On the FAA's website, Category 2 is technically defined as
lacking laws or regulations necessary to support the certification
and oversight of air carriers in accordance with minimum
international standards.
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