On 22 October 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) hosted a reception to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its cooperation with the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC France). The event celebrated a decade of strong partnership and shared achievements since 2016, which have contributed significantly to strengthening Thailand’s civil aviation safety oversight capabilities and aligning its regulatory framework with international standards.
During the reception, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of CAAT, welcomed distinguished guests and expressed his appreciation to DGAC France and Airbus for their steadfast partnership and continued support over the past decade. He highlighted the important role of this cooperation in enhancing personnel capabilities, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and strengthening Thailand’s civil aviation safety oversight system.
Representatives from France, including Mr. Thibaut Lallemand of DGAC France, Mr. Jean Sol-Macher, Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Thailand, and Mr. Yannick Malinge, Senior Vice President and Head of Aviation Safety at Airbus, also emphasized the significance of the longstanding partnership. They reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in civil aviation, recognizing that the partnership has not only contributed to advancing Thailand’s aviation safety standards but has also played an important role in strengthening bilateral relations between Thailand and France.
Over the past 10 years, the cooperation between CAAT and DGAC France, with support from Airbus, has made valuable contributions to the continuous development of Thailand’s civil aviation safety oversight system. This collaboration has supported Thailand’s efforts to address aviation safety deficiencies following the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) red-flag designation, as well as improvements in regulatory oversight that contributed to Thailand regaining Category 1 (CAT 1) status under the United States Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. It has also supported progress under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA), with Thailand achieving a score of 91.71% in the areas under CAAT’s responsibility, exceeding the global average. These achievements reflect significant progress in strengthening the country’s aviation safety oversight capabilities.
The 10th anniversary celebration was not only an opportunity to reflect on a decade of shared achievements but also a testament to the friendship, mutual trust, and strong partnership established between CAAT and DGAC France. The occasion reaffirmed their shared commitment to further cooperation in personnel development, knowledge exchange, and the continuous enhancement of aviation safety oversight standards, contributing to the long-term resilience and sustainable development of Thailand’s civil aviation industry.
