transpac

Phuket tourists safe after tour speedboat takes on water, capsizes en route to Phi Phi

PHUKET: All tourists on board a Phuket speedboat that took on water and capsized en route to Phi Phi Island after departing Chalong Pier yesterday morning were safely recovered from the water yesterday afternoon (Jan 25).

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket...LmD8Xm24YMs.97

transpac

Flight delays warning for Don Mueang airport this week

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has warned of 30-45 minute-delays to flights in and out of Don Mueang airport during runway maintenance from Tuesday to Friday.

Aerothai president Somnuk Rongthong said on Monday that Airports of Thailand Plc would close a 200-metre-long section at the northern end of the airport's western runway from Jan 29 to Feb 1. During this period the usable distance of the runway would shrink to 3,000 metres.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/tra...port-this-week

transpac

A follow-up to yesterday's bombshell...Serve, volley, winner?


Thai king moves to block sister's 'inappropriate' candidacy for PM

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Friday moved to block his elder sister’s surprise bid to run for prime minister in March, calling her candidacy for a populist opposition party “inappropriate” and unconstitutional.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-t...-idUSKCN1PX06D

Kalboz

I thought by relinquishing her royal titles (when in 1972 to marry fellow student, the American Peter Ladd Jensen) she is no longer a Royal and thus her actions are that of a private Thai citizen ... no?

transpac

I thought by relinquishing her royal titles

I am under the impression that her Royal title of "Mom Chao" was reinstated, maybe after her divorce.

That said, don't think there are any laws/rules (yet) prohibiting her participation? I think when the shoe dropped yesterday most Thais assumed she had "permission"? And perhaps she did, but then the current dictator probably realized his "election" to a lifetime PM post was in jeopardy, and so he, and the entire Military Junta, started working behind the scenes?

Dr. HFH

That's correct. Upon her divorce, she did regain some of her royal status; however, she remains out of the line of succession to the throne.

transpac

Thailand eVOA Goes Live 14 Feb 2019 (after pilot program)

Currently the eVOA is available to nationals from Andorra, Bhutan, China, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

https://www.evisathailand.com/required.php

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/108...e-is-now-live/

https://thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com/th...ine/home/index

Kalboz

Thailand Fails FAA Safety Audit… Again!

https://onemileatatime.com/thailand-...-safety-audit/

Well, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is now reporting that they had FAA inspectors in Thailand February 11 through 15, 2019, to assess if safety was up to ICAO standards.

The findings? Thailand failed, and 26 safety issues were found. Officials haven’t elaborated on what those failures are, though they’re apparently already working on addressing the shortcomings.

seanthepilot

transpac

And TG flights to/from Islamabad and Karachi, according to local news.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gen...europe-flights

Believe other airlines have also canceled flights between THL and Europe, while others are trying to figure out new routes and/or stopovers.

Bit of a mess. Departure hall at SBIA/BKK a zoo.

transpac

Evidently, TG will fly over China airspace and will resume flights today.

Good news.

Kalboz

Thai Airways Reports Huge 2018 Losses

https://onemileatatime.com/thai-airways-losing-money/

Well, 2018 results are in, so how did Thai Airways do? Not well, not well at all. Thai Airways has reported 2018 losses of 11.6 billion baht (~365 million USD), up from a loss of 2.1 billion baht (~66 million USD) in the previous year.

Ouch. So while 2018 was supposed to be the year where they turn around, instead they lost five times more money than in the previous year.

transpac

In addition to TG's financial woes, they may not be flying to the U.S. until they address the FAA "issues": Thailand (CAAT, and not the national airline, THAI) also failed yet another safety audit.

Thailand Fails FAA Safety Audit… Again

https://onemileatatime.com/thailand-...-safety-audit/


Thailand Accelerates Push To Regain FAA Category 1 Rating

Nearly four years after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration stripped Thailand of its Category 1 safety rating, the Southeast Asian country has accelerated efforts to address a variety of oversight and other shortcomings in a bid to restore its former standing with the FAA. Regaining Category 1 status would allow Thai-registered airlines to launch new routes to the U.S. and participate in codeshare agreements with U.S.-based carriers.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), the FAA conducted an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) technical review from February 11 to 15 to assess the country’s ability to comply with safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The FAA contingent, led by team leader Benjamin Garrido and four team members, identified 26 safety issues. The Thai authorities did not elaborate on the findings but said they have already begun addressing many of the shortcomings.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...egory-1-rating


FAA Has Problems Thailand’s Below Average Scores, But Not ICAO–WHAT’S UP?

Civil aviation authorities are “audited” by EASA, FAA and ICAO. Ostensibly all use the same basic standards—the ICAO USOAP and yet, there are frequent variances among these judgments.

A prime example of these inconsistent assessments is demonstrated by recent actions with regard to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. Here is the recent trail of audits:

The upgrade is required for Thai carriers to begin flights to the US or codeshare with US airlines.

https://jdasolutions.aero/blog/faa-p...ot-icao-whats/

LAXlocal

Any guesses on problems around election day ?

Demonstrations when one side does not like the results ?
It got pretty nasty a few years ago......

transpac

There are no indications of potential protests or backlash. The current Military Junta have been in complete control for ~ five years and maintain a steely grip on the populace. And they've more or less rigged the election, constitution and form of government (Thai-style democracy), and hobbled opposition parties. Even if they don't win, in the sense of a party victory and premiership, they (and the PTB) will still control the government. The populace has been pretty much neutered, can't see them rising up unless some outrageous act happens. Everyone's tuning up for Songkran and the Royal Coronation.

Alcohol sales will be banned for two successive weekends, maybe 18:00-18:00 17/3 and same same 23/3 & 24 /3.