THE downgrade of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s (CAAM) air safety rating is a matter of perception which has to be corrected, said Economics Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“The concern expressed by the authority (the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA) is against the regulator not the airlines.

“However, now the perception is it will have a major impact on Malaysia Airlines or any airlines coming out of Malaysia,” Azmin told reporters in the Parliament lobby.

Azmin said the perception has to be corrected.

Economically, the downgrade is unlikely to leave a significant impact, as the status quo remains whereby Malaysian carriers can continue their existing service to the United States.

However, they will not be allowed to establish new services to the US.

The FAA told The Malaysian Insight in a statement yesterday the downgrade was due to the CAAM’s failure to meet the international safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This resulted in the CAAM receiving a Category 2 rating based on a reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority.

“This process is an assessment of the CAAM and not any individual airline operating inside or outside of Malaysia.

“With a Category 2 rating, Malaysia’s carriers can continue existing service to the United States.

“They will, however, not be allowed to establish new services to the United States,” the statement read.

A Category 2 International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) rating means that the CAAM – the domestic equivalent of the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, and/or inspection procedures. – November 12, 2019.