Originally Posted by
LarryJ
They are regulated by the country in which they are licensed.
No, they don't. The FAA ability to oversee foreign airlines is rather limited as compared to their oversight of US airlines. They can inspect aircraft and required documents when the airplane is at a US airport but they can't inspect or oversee the airline's operations, training, and maintenance its own country. The International Aviation Safety Assessment Program accepts, or rejects, the country's civil aviation authority (CAA) but the oversight and inspection of the country's airline(s) are left up to their own CAA.
Yes airlines are mainly regulated from the country that they operate, but any airline operating a flight to the US airspace is subject to approval of their practices from the FAA. Please see Thai's blacklist issues from both the EU and USA. The reality is if the FAA doesn't believe you are operating or maintaining the airplane per OEM requirements then you will get blacklisted from flying to the USA.