Philippines defends record after EU plane ban
The Associated Press, Manila | Wed, 03/31/2010 5:46 PM
Filipino aviation officials criticized the European Union on Wednesday for banning all Philippine airlines - including the country's flag carrier - from flying to the continent due to safety concerns.
The European Commission on Tuesday banned carriers from the Philippines and Sudan from entering its airspace due to noncompliance with international safety standards. At least 47 Philippine carriers are covered by the ban, which takes effect Thursday, officials said.
No Filipino carrier currently flies to Europe, but Philippine Airlines, which last flew to the continent in 1998, said it has always included the EU among a list of destinations where it planned to operate. PAL operates up to 33 weekly flights to American destinations.
Alfonso Cusi, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, acknowledged that there were some safety concerns, but that "does not mean that Philippine aircraft are unsafe."
The ban came after the International Civil Aviation Organization questioned whether the Filipino aviation authority could adequately ensure the safety of Philippine-registered airlines, and after the earlier downgrading of the Philippines' safety rating by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. ICAO is the Montreal-based U.N. aviation safety agency.
ICAO has raised doubts over Philippine authorities' ability to adhere to international standards, such as the regular use of safety checklists during aircraft inspections, Cusi told The Associated Press.
But an official from Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said other concerns dealt with the training of aviation safety inspectors and a lack of an adequate number of aviation safety personnel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
Cusi said steps have been taken to address safety concerns and that he was "disappointed" that EU authorities had not checked on those steps before announcing the ban. He said he has invited EU aviation safety officials to visit in May.
