NewGen Airways (Bangkok Don Mueang) has become the ninth large-scale Thai commercial carrier to complete its AOC recertification drive.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) formally presented the regional passenger carrier with its new license at a ceremony held in Bangkok on August 24.
NewGen Airways operates four B737-400s and six B737-800s on scheduled passenger flights between Bangkok Don Mueang, Phuket and Krabi in Thailand, and multiple destinations in China.
MJets (Thailand) (MIN, Bangkok Don Mueang) was to have secured its licence at around the same time but, according to the Bangkok Post, CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop said its recertification had been complicated by the fact that it operates multiple types of aircraft (Cessna 525B, 550, 750 and Gulfstream G200 and Gulfstream V) all of which require an individual international flight audit by CAAT inspectors. As such, if it is unable to complete these tests, the passenger charter carrier may have to suspend international operations ahead of a September 1 deadline.
The CAAT is preparing for the start of an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) which will commence during the third week of September and which is aimed at removing the Serious Safety Concerns (SSC) imposed on Thailand in 2015. The outcome of the audit will be known in October.
