On 22 April 2025, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially announced on its website. The reinstatement of Thailand’s aviation safety oversight rating from Category 2 (CAT2) back to Category 1 (CAT1), recognizing Thailand as a country that meets international aviation safety standards.
This significant achievement follows a comprehensive reassessment by the FAA, which began in November 2024 and included the identification of 36 findings requiring corrective action. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) responded proactively, revising relevant regulations and collaborating closely with all aviation stakeholders in Thailand to address the identified deficiencies. The final assessment was conducted from 10 to 12 March 2025.
On 12 March 2025, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of CAAT, and Mr. Dennis Hill, Acting Director of the FAA’s Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, signed the Record of Discussion summarizing the successful resolution of all findings. As a result, Thailand has passed the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) and has been officially restored to Category 1 status.
Air Chief Marshal Manat stated that this achievement is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of all sectors within Thailand’s aviation industry. He emphasized that CAAT is not only committed to its role as a regulator but also strives to serve as a facilitator—supporting airlines and aviation businesses to operate efficiently while upholding the highest safety standards.
“Regaining Category 1 not only restores Thailand’s standing in the global aviation market but also underscores our determination to develop a sustainable and competitive aviation industry at the forefront of the region,” said the CAAT Director General.
Following the CAT1 reinstatement, CAAT is now taking steps to prepare for the next phase of U.S. flight operations. These include:
1. Reviewing the Open Skies Agreement – A policy-level discussion that may involve coordination between the Ministries of Transport of both countries.
2. Ongoing compliance under the IASA program – While the initial assessment has been successfully completed, CAAT remains committed to maintaining robust safety oversight standards to ensure continued alignment with international benchmarks.
3. Coordination with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – CAAT and TSA will engage in joint assessments, as part of their regular cooperation. For 2025, a scheduled assessment is expected to take place during the second and third quarters of the year.
Following this success, CAAT is now preparing for another major milestone: the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), scheduled for August to September 2025. This audit will assess the effectiveness of Thailand’s implementation of the eight Critical Elements (CEs) of a safety oversight system. The outcome will be reflected in Thailand’s Effective Implementation (EI) Score.
