The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed the downgrade of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s (CAAM) air safety rating for failing to meet international safety standards.

In a statement in response to The Malaysian Insight’s queries, the aviation authority said CAAM has failed to meet the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and has received a Category 2 rating based on a reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority.

“This process is an assessment of 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 CAAM – a body equivalent to 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.

Civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers – that have applied to fly to the US, currently conducts operations to the country or participates in code-sharing arrangements with US partner airlines – are assessed under the IASA programme.

It also determines whether foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards.

“In 2003, Malaysia was assigned a Category 1 rating, meaning CAAM complied with ICAO standards for aviation safety oversight.

“The FAA conducted an in-country reassessment of Malaysia under the IASA programme in April 2019, and met with the CAAM in July 2019 to discuss the results,” it added.

Civil aviation authorities which comply with ICAO standards are rated in Category 1.

To maintain the rating, it has to ensure that its standards are in line with that of the ICAO, which is the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation.

The ICAO establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

With a Category 1 rating, a country’s air carrier can establish service to the United States and carry the code of US carriers. – November 11, 2019.