"Panama's int'l airport regains top safety status"

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Panama's int'l airport regains top safety status
The Economist


In April 2004 the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restored the
Category-1 aviation safety rating to Panama City's international
airport, Tocumen, which had been downgraded three years ago following an
inspection by the FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
A recent inspection confirmed that Tocumen airport currently complies
with international security standards. This follows the implementation
by the Direccion de Aeronatica Civil (DAC), the civil aviation
authority, and the government, of 29 recommendations issued by a team of
international consultants on air security. These included upgrades in
security infrastructure, personnel training, and the creation of
inspection programmes and information systems, as well as changes to the
1963 Ley de Aviacion, the aviation law, and to various other
regulations. The restoration of the Category-1 rating enables Panamanian
airlines to acquire more landing rights at US airports. Copa Airlines
immediately announced that it would start offering non-stop flights from
Tocumen to New York's John F Kennedy airport from June 17th.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************