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Aviation safety plan to be set by May 22

The Transport Ministry aims to complete an aviation-safety master plan by May 22 that will establish several separate units with the specific tasks of overseeing aviation safety and airport management.

“One part of the master plan is a corrective action plan, a safety measure that is expected to be compete on May 10. Once this part is finished, the master plan should be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on May 22,” Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said yesterday.

He said the corrective action plan aimed to solve current aviation-safety problems, and it was hoped that it would obtain certification from both international airlines and aviation organisations.

Prajin said the ministry would allow an extra 20 days for revising aviation laws and regulations beyond the original May 22 deadline so the details could be discussed further.

To speed up the process, the ministry will use the power of Article 44 under the junta’s interim constitution to rearrange overall management of the aviation system.

The ministry plans to separate some units from the Department of Civil Aviation and reappoint them as new bodies to oversee specific aspects of aviation safety, aircraft and ship searches, and assistance.

The agency also plans to establish a body to regulate and advise on aviation matters such as international standards and airline licensing. Another plan is to set up a Department of Aviation to manage and develop the 28 airports in the country.

uih supports broadband holding co

United Information Highway, a provider of high-speed data network services, is ready to support the Information and Communications Technology Ministry’s planned formation of a “National Broadband Holding Company”, said UIH executive committee chairman Vichai Bencharongkul.

The ministry plans to create the holding company to oversee the country’s broadband policy, aiming to prevent redundant investment in broadband networks by private and state agencies and promote network sharing. The ministry will allow state and private telecom operators to join the holding company.

Vichai, who also serves as president of the Telecommunications Association of Thailand, said the holding company would enable all involved to avoid redundant network investments.

GSB may cut rates next week

Government Savings Bank will consider lowering its interest rates next Tuesday in response to the Bank of Thailand’s latest policy-rate cut.

Recently, the BOT’s Monetary Policy Committee cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.50 per cent.

GSB president Chatchai Payuhanaveechai said that if his bank cuts its rates, it could affect its income at some level, given likely lower interest receivables from loans. However, the bank will attempt to maintain its net profit at close to last year’s Bt20 billion.