MH370 investigator to assist in Malaysia’s efforts to regain FAA category 1 rating

November 22nd 2019

Print Friendly

Three International Civil Aviation Organisation staff to join eight-person task force. Read More »

Malaysia has established an eight-person task force to help the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) regain U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status. Earlier this month, the FAA downgraded CAAM to Category 2 following an audit it completed last April.

The downgrade will prevent AirAsia X from using its Malaysian division to open a fifth freedom flight to California from Japan. The category downgrade also has resulted in American Airlines (AA) removing its code-share from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flights, as is standard procedure. MAS will continue to code-share on AA.

The task force will be led by former department of civil aviation director-general, Datuk Kok Soo Chon, who oversaw the investigation into the disappearance of MH370 in March 2014. It will include four pilots, three engineers and a technical coordinator. Three members, with unspecified roles, will be appointed from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), transport minister, Anthony Loke, said.

CAAM said the FAA identified 33 “open status” matters and other safety issues. The FAA said CAAM “is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, and/or inspection procedures”.

The FAA last assessed Malaysia in 2003.