The Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) has been invited by US Ambassador to the Philippines
Harry K.
Thomas to a breakfast meeting Monday to discuss the country's aviation
status and the recent lifting of Significant Safety Concerns (SSC's) by
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which may result in
the lifting of Category 2 Status by the United States.
Deputy Director General John C.
Andrews said the US upgrade may come this year. However, the call from
the US Embassy meant the meeting was urgent. No further details is
disclosed.
The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) has been quoted earlier that they will conduct independent audit
of the country's compliance to ICAO directives.
But the FAA is beset by funding woes
due to budget cuts under sequestration effective March 1, which would
mean that there might not be audit forthcoming to the Philippines and
that the United States might just adopt the finding of the ICAO like
their contemporaries in the European Union, or defer audit until next
year and no rating upgrade in the meantime. Hard decisions of which will
be known Monday.
With the sequestration in effect, there will be no staff to do audit reports and no funds to finance the audit.
Under sequestration, the FAA is required to cut $637 million, or roughly 5 percent, from its $12.5 billion budget. It includes $500 million in consultant fees, $179 million in travel
expenses for employees, and $143 million in operating costs for the
FAA’s own fleet of 46 aircraft.
The forced spending cuts will also
affect most of the FAA's 47,000 employees who have been told to expect
one or two furlough days every two-week pay period.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday that FAA would be cutting $200 million spent on supplies and travel.
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