The secretary confirmed that FAA observations went from 28 to 39 findssuch as Expansion overtook it by being able to consult the series of leaks of the so-called #GuacamayaLeaks, where documents from the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) referred to a 50% advance to recover Category 1 until last August.
“Yesterday we had a meeting with the FAA to review how the 39 findings have been dealt with,” he told deputies in the Lower House. “The following week a team from IASA will come to do a technical review to see how we progressed on each of these findings. By next week we can have some conclusions from the corrective action plan”.
To relieve the remaining 20% pending, the official assured that It is necessary to send changes in the Aviation and Aeronautics laws to submit them to the consideration of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators, which would help to strengthen the powers of the AFAC from the legislative sphere.
For January 12, the AFAC and the SICT expect the visit from Billy Noen, FAA administrator, to make an evaluation of the corrective action plan. The works to carry out a final audit are expected in February, and in March the conclusions will be reached in order to recover Category 1 in April.
In parallel, Nuño Lara said that he is in talks with the Ministry of Finance to count the necessary resources to strengthen the payments of the inspectors, the training and carry out the increase of personnel according to what is required by the FAA.
According to a report from the Sedena leaked among #GuacamayaLeaks, among the observations with no progress was the lack of a methodology to determine the need for inspectors; the lack of evidence on the “peripheral expenses” of the actions carried out by the AFAC, and the insufficient number of operations inspectors to deal with all makes and models of aircraft, among other items.
Air cabotage, under review
Regarding the federal government’s proposal to allow operations of air cabotage for foreign companies –which would allow them to operate national flights, which to date only Mexican airlines can carry out–, Nuño Lara said that the SICT is evaluating the issue.
“We are in a diagnostic phase regarding that,” said the secretary.
The proposal has been launched as part of efforts to attract more airlines to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)whose traffic has recently picked up through an agreement with the air sector to reach 100 daily operations in the terminal, which led to a greater opening of routes.
Cabotage has caught the attention of airlines such as Avianca, who sees an opportunity in it for his plans in Mexico.” It is a subject in which we would be more than interested in if it occurs”, Adrián Neuhauser, CEO of the airline, recently said in a meeting with the media.