Thai air authority downgraded

After giving Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation 65 days from July 18, 2015, to correct national air service safety-standard issues, including a lack of qualified inspectors and improper testing procedures (Sept. ’15, pg. 2), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Thailand’s civil aviation authority from Category 1 to Category 2 on Dec. 2 after a 30-day review showed that standards had not been met. 

Airlines originating in a country ranked Category 2 by the FAA are unable to introduce new routes to the US nor expand existing routes. The FAA uses standards set by the International Civil Aviation Authority, a UN organization.