CAAP wants aviation systems audit postponed

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will have to wait a little longer to take a shot at regaining Category I status with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) after the postponement of the aviation systems audit supposed to be conducted today.

Sources told The STAR the postponement was done upon the request of the Tim Neel & Associates (TNA), a US aviation systems expert hired by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), after reportedly finding the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) not ready for the strict and highly technical US FAA audit.

“The CAAP is requesting for the audit to be moved to Jan. 27 instead of Dec. 5 but the US FAA has not yet replied if they are okay with the new schedule,” the source said.

The move of TNA in postponing the US FAA audit has reportedly incurred the ire of the CAAP top management, since the delay will put it in the hot seat with Malacañang and DOTC Secretary Manuel Roxas II with earlier guarantees that they will pass the audit and regain the US FAA Category I rating.

The postponement will be a big blow to beleaguered local carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), which was the one most affected by the move of the US FAA to downgrade the Philippines from Category I to Category II status, with the effect of the downgrade barring carriers of Category II status countries from opening new routes to US airports.

PAL had ordered new wide-bodied aircraft for long haul flights several years ago and were about to accept delivery of the airplanes, expected to be used for new routes to the US from their current flights into San Francisco and Los Angeles.