AFTER submitting the final three corrective measures to the US Federal Aviation Administration, Malaysia now awaits FAA’s decision on its bid to elevate the country’s air safety rating.
The FAA is scheduled to announce the result of its assessment of Malaysia’s air safety measures later this month.
Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the submission of the final three measures follows Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s (CAAM) success in implementing corrective action in 26 out of 29 findings by the FAA since 2019.
“Corrective measures to cover three more findings were submitted to the FAA on July 25.
“The FAA will decide on our status, and is expected to make an announcement in August,” the Transport Minister said in reply to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai).
Of the final three measures, two are of a legal aspect and the third is related to technical and training involving the preparation of syllabus for CAAM inspectors, said Dr Wee.
Abdul Latiff wanted to know the measures taken by the ministry on the FAA’s downgrade of CAAM safety status from Category One to Two in November 2019.
The downgrade restricts the country’s airlines from adding flights to the United States.
As a Category Two regulator, air carriers from Malaysia cannot start new services and are restricted to current levels of any existing service to the United States.
Carriers under this category are also subjected to additional inspections at US airports.
“We remain committed to long-term measures and will be amending laws which will be brought to the Dewan Rakyat next year,” Dr Wee added.
On a separate matter, he said his ministry is working with Wisma Putra and CAAM to ensure Malaysia retains its seat on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Among the strategies, he said, is that Malaysia has attended conferences and two-way meetings with European, Arab, Latin American and African civil authorities.
CAAM has also started offering training courses under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme with signatories under ICAO, he said.
