THE International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said the Philippines has “significant” unresolved safety concerns discovered during the agency’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program.
In a document, ICAO bracketed the Philippines with Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
The audit program was approved by ICAO during its 179th session and released in the December 2009 bulletin.
“The safety-oversight audit of the Philippines… revealed significant safety concerns which remain unresolved by the state. In accordance with the mechanism approved by the council, contracting states are advised of significant safety concerns through posting on the secure web site of ICAO,” the document said.
Earlier, the Philippine aviation industry’s classification was also downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to Category II from Category I due to safety concerns. No definite schedule for a re-audit has been set.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines has been asking government to facilitate the reaudit.
The FAA downgrade is keeping the carrier from expanding its fleet to service the US market.
