Airlines

Malaysia regains US FAA’s Category 1 safety rating

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has once again granted Malaysia’s aviation safety regulator a Category 1 certification, allowing Malaysian carriers to begin and expand their service to the US.

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The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has once again granted Malaysia‘s aviation safety regulator a Category 1 certification, allowing Malaysian carriers to begin and expand their service to the US.

AirAsia hails reinstatement of Malaysia’s air-safety ranking to Category 1(Opens in a new browser tab)

Since being given a Category 1 status in 2003, Malaysia’s aviation safety regulation had never been downgraded, placing it alongside nations like Thailand, Bangladesh, Mexico, Curaçao, Costa Rica, and Ghana.

On November 11, 2019, the FAA published a notice informing the public that CAAM failed to meet the ICAO safety requirements and was given a Category 2 rating for lacking technical proficiency, trained staff, record-keeping, and inspection processes. The FAA did not permit reciprocal code-sharing agreements between US carriers and any Malaysian-based airline under Category 2 rating.

The newly updated B737-800 NG aircraft of Malaysia Airlines is unveiled.(Opens in a new browser tab)

“A return to Category 1 is certainly fantastic news for Malaysia and Malaysian airlines as this enables Batik Air to expand our services to new destinations and, more significantly, get the necessary clearances more quickly,” said Capt. Mushafiz Bin Mustafa Bakri, CEO of Batik Air Malaysia.

Due to countries now removing travel restrictions, Malaysia will be able to increase tourism as a result of the FAA’s removal of any safety concerns it may had. Following a recent FAA review of our civil aviation authority, Batik Air is steadfast in its commitment to helping CAAM satisfy ICAO criteria and ensuring that Malaysia maintains its Category 1 status.

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.