CAAP grounds Seair, Skyjet on safety concerns

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) grounded yesterday low cost carrier South East Asian Airlines International Inc. (Seair-I) and leisure airline Magnum Air Inc. (Skyjet) due to safety concerns raised by aviation experts from the European Union (EU).

William Hotchkiss III, director general of CAAP, announced the suspension of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of both Seair-I and Skyjet for various safety “observations” in reference to the report by the EU Assessment Team that visited the country last month.

Hotchkiss said both airlines committed various safety shortcomings on the rules and standards prescribed under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR).

Hotchkiss wrote letters to Seair-I president Avelino Zapanta and Magnum Air chief operating officer Teodoro Fojas informing them about the suspension of their permit to operate.

Hotchkiss said that the report submitted by the EU Assessment Team showed that Seair-I yielded 15 safety observations covering different areas from management structure SMS, and accident preventions and flight safety program to flight data management

Skyjet, on the other hand, yielded eight observations covering different areas from flight data monitoring and quality assurance to airworthiness and maintenance control.

Hotchkiss pointed out that the results of assessment visit made by EU from April 16 to 24 as well as the investigation made by CAAP showed that the safety concerns need to be properly given immediate corrective actions.

He added that the suspension order would remain in effect until both Seair and Skyjet undertake the necessary corrective actions and at the same time comply with all the aviation safety standards.