AOT to undergo audit programmes

BANGKOK, July 22 (TNA) - Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) will undergo audit programmes from late 2016 to 2017. AOT President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn told journalists of the information on Wednesday, saying that AOT is preparing for the audits, especially the readiness of its personnel, a key indicator under the programmes. Nitinai revealed, however, that the AOT board has acknowledged the state enterprise's plan to cope with a possible ban on Thai flights on international routes, an impact from the Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) and the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) implemented by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and from an examination of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to the AOT chief, ICAO and FAA have already raised their safety concerns with Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), under the Ministry of Transport. The AOT chief cautioned if the upcoming meeting of a European aviation organization, set in early December, resolved to downgrade Thailand's aviation safety, destinations of Thai planes will be limited in Europe To cope with the situation, the AOT chief pointed out, AOT has asked the management of U-Tapao Airport in the Thai East to prepare parking areas for aircraft to be affected by the possible ban, with 20 parking bays reportedly prepared for the purpose at U-Tapao Airport and considered sufficient. Besides, AOT has discussed the issue with DCA and Thai airlines to prepare solutions to the issue. (TNA)