YANGON, Myanmar - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Myanmar needs a national aviation policy.
In a written reply to queries, IATA said the policy must take into
account factors like expected traffic growth, government regulation and
personnel training.
In response, Myanmar's Civil Aviation Department said such a policy is being drafted and should be ready by 2014.
Myanmar's aviation sector has never been considered a leader in the
field given its decades of isolation from the international community.
But as the country transforms, its civil aviation department believes Myanmar can become a Southeast Asian aviation hub.
Win Swe Tun, deputy director general at the Department of Civil
Aviation, said: "(For a) long time, we (have been) without the specific
aviation policy. We just accept the foreign operators. We have no
practice of the marketing or attraction to the foreign operator. But
now, it's a good opportunity for more (international) relationships...
But on the other side, it's a challenge for us. So we definitely need
the policy also."
Currently, Myanmar's civil aviation authority is both the regulator and manager of the country's airports.
However, Mr Win Swe Tun noted that plans are underway to farm out the operations of a service provider to another agency.
Another challenge is the need to boost the less-than-desired reputation of Myanmar's local airlines.
Authorities are now giving this high-priority attention.
Mr Win Swe Tun said: "We had no restriction about the aircraft. But
in 2011, we restricted the existing aircraft, not to use any more after
25 years. And for new batches or hire aircraft, it can be used up to 20
years and also for the operation, we have safety oversight system and
also from the airlines, we have safety management system so we need to
take more care of the safety issue."
Over the last two months, Myanma Airways encountered two incidences
with one plane skidding off the runway, while another overshot the end
of a runway, injuring two.
Last December, Air Bagan suffered a crash landing, killing two passengers and injuring about 10 others.
With increased air travel within Myanmar, safety takes centre stage.
Sao Thanda Noi, deputy managing director at Air Bagan, said: "I also
agree and understand that people will be aware of the safety issues for
the airlines in Myanmar. Also, we're adding more aircraft and newer
aircraft to our fleet. So these are our preparations and process and
also we're training more of our employees to get into the international
standards."
Aung Gyi, managing director at Golden Myanmar Airlines, said: "If we
talk about our Myanmar aviation industry, we're in the kindergarten
stage. So far, there's a bad reputation, but not a big issue, we can
recover and go to a certain level in very short period of time. The
people who are operating, they have to absorb and they have to accept to
the modern, latest technology to go on the safety side. What we're
talking about all the time - safety management system."
Golden Myanmar has hired foreign industry experts to help train its local staff.
The airline is hoping the government will help provide training and introduce stricter requirements for employee training.
IATA said Myanmar's national aviation strategy must be tourism and
business-friendly. This will enable Myanmar to enjoy the social and
economic benefits such as job creation which the aviation sector will
bring.
IATA recognizes Myanmar's efforts in developing its regulatory
system, air traffic management as well as airport infrastructure and
hopes to see a continued momentum in these efforts.
source: eTurbo News
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