transpac

Some follow-up on the ICAO report....I'm surprised that the Junta hasn't complained that the ICAO just doesn't understand Thailand's aviation "issues"?


Transport Ministry to take over aviation supervision from Civil Aviation Department

February 18, 2015


The Transport Ministry plans to take over the supervisory responsibilities over the safety and aviation management from the Civil Aviation Department in a major restructure to improve the safety and aviation management standards, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit said today.

The restructuring is deemed necessary after the International Civil Aviation Organisation of the United Nations gave a poor audit rating of Thailand’s safety and aviation management by the CAD.

According to ICAO, Thailand scored 35.6 percent which is lower than Cambodia’s 40.18 percent and the lowest in Asean region.

However, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said that the CAD must improve its performance in two areas namely supervision on safety and supervision on aviation management – that means the future issuance of operating licences to various domestic airports must be tightened up.

He said that the CAD would have to work out its working plan to upgrade its performance for submission to the ICAO within March 2.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tra...ion-department

transpac

Nok Air says safety its top concern in wake of door glitch


SUCHAT SRITAMA

The Nation February 25, 2015 1:00 am

Budget carrier Nok Air has conceded that its image has been battered by a recent problem with an aircraft door but insists it follows a "safety first" rule.

The airline held a press conference yesterday, a week after the rear door of a Bombardier aircraft at Nan Nakhon Airport would not close, leaving 80 passengers, including many VIPs and journalists, stranded for five hours waiting for another plane to be sent from Bangkok to pick them up.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30254776.html

Tchiowa

http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/pol...d-shirt-deaths

Prayut is supporting Suthep and Abhisit over the red shirt protests. Not surprising, so doesn't really make much difference given the current political situation. It is good, however, to see more official acknowledgement that Suthep gave the order for the army to use force to remove the Red Shirts. Nearly 100 were killed.

transpac

Official Denies Grounding Planes at BKK Airport in 'Revenge'


BANGKOK — A top immigration official has denied allegations that he deliberately grounded planes at Bangkok's international airport because of a personal vendetta.

"I think it was a misunderstanding," said immigration police commander Pol.Maj.Gen. Suwitpol, in response to the accusation that he ordered a 30-minute delay of all Thai Airways planes leaving from Suvarnabhumi airport on 25 February.

The allegation was posted on Pantip, one of the most popular web-forums in Thailand, by an anonymous individual who claimed to be a Thai Airways employee and a witness of the incident.

According to the posts, Pol.Maj.Gen. Suwitpol demanded to see his wife off at the departure gate, and became angry when he was refused by staff who said he lacked security clearance. In an act of revenge, he ordered all Thai Airways planes to be delayed for 30 minutes the next day, the post alleged.

"It's really shameful that a man of great education and power thinks that was a way to solve problem," the poster wrote. "If you are so powerful, don't only bully Thai people. Try to show off your power at other airlines like Korean Airlines, Japan Airlines, IY [Yemen Airlines]. I want to know if you have the balls to do that."

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...sid=1425016826

transpac

Clarification (or as its known here in Thailand: obfuscation) on the above...

Immigration police 'delayed flights'



http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/tra...elayed-flights

Diplomatico

Coming soon to BKK and DMK - automated immigration kiosks:

"The Immigration Police Bureau will install immigration clearance machines to cut queues at the country's main Bangkok airports by mid-2015. Sixteen automated immigration clearance machines will be allotted..."

http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/gen...airport-queues

transpac

Nok Air slips into the red.

(I think TG owns ~ 39% of NOK.)


It was a reversal of fortune for budget carrier Nok Air, which posted a net loss of 472 million baht last year compared with profits of 1.06 billion in 2013 and 505 million in 2012.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...erce-price-war

Tchiowa

Bit of a ruckus at SVB last week? A flight delayed and a family kicked off a Cathay Pacific flight because their son refused to put on his seatbelt? Seems like there needs to be more to the story.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/0...ntcmp=HPBucket

aBroadAbroad

I think you meant to say BKK…

Already being discussed in the appropriate CX forum: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...w-footage.html

Tchiowa

Apparently we Americans aren't the only ugly tourists around. Chinese tourist caught on film kicking a bell at a wat in Chiang Mai.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/0...ntcmp=obinsite

transpac

More info on the recent airport snafu...

Police chief transfers Suvarnabhumi airport immigration chief

BANGKOK: -- Commander of the Immigration Division 2 Pol Maj Gen Suwichpol Imchairat was transferred to inactive post after he was accused of causing delays of about 20 outbound flights of Thai Airways International at Suvarnabhumi airport late last month.

The order to transfer him was signed by Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyos Phumphanmuang.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawuthi Thavornsiri said the transfer of the immigration chief at the airport would enable a full investigation into the flight delays.

The Immigration Division 2 supervises departure clearance at Bangkok’s main airport.

The immigration chief was blamed to deliberately delay 21 outbound flights at Suvarnabhumi airport from 8 am to 1 pm on Feb 25 at Suvarnabhumi airport by 10 minutes on average.

The reports of flight delays went viral on the social network with allegations that he ordered slow processing of paperwork for aircraft departure clearance after he was barred from seeing off his wife at the door step of the aircraft.

However the spokesman denied this saying the immigration chief had only wanted to greet a senior official who had boarded a THAI plane.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pol...igration-chief

Informpage

Has anyone seen the effect of this? Whilst I am not the club type I like the VW bars and food vendors that service the late night crowds.

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/03/04/bangkok-nightlife-said-be-midnight-curfew-until-further-notice

transpac

I think this one/two day "change" in opening/closing hours was limited to the Lumpini Police district (which covers Nana Entertainment Plaza/Zone) , and it has been rescinded to things are back to "normal", for now. As with all things here one never knows what might happen tonight/tomorrow. I do not believe that any food vendors were impacted.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...elled-by-cops/

Tchiowa

Seems like every few years Bangkok goes through this. Someone gets a sense of morals and says we have to close the bars down early. Never lasts. Too many cops make too much money from the bars.

Kalboz

Or his palm doesn't get greased enough!