Wednesday, June 3 2020 16:50

ArmInfo. RA Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan held a remote consultation on the current situation and  development prospects in the field of civil aviation, the press  service of RA PM reports.  Armenian Civil Aviation Committee (CAC)  Head Tatevik Revazyan partook in the discussion via video link.  

Tatevik Revazyan briefed the Premier on the processes underway in the  sphere. She reported that a meeting of the European Flight Safety  Team was held on May 12, 2020. As a result of the findings made  public following the EU experts' assessment visit in February this  year, a decision was made to put all aircraft operators registered in  Armenia on the EU Flight Safety List.   According to the European Commission and the EU Flight Safety  Committee, improper control and incomplete certification by the RA  Civil Aviation Committee is the reason behind said decision, which  restricts the right of Armenia-registered air carriers to fly to  Europe (except for evacuation flights, flights for humanitarian and  medical purposes). It should be noted that the affected airlines may  operate flights to other countries. At the same time, the decision  will not affect the implementation of flights by international  airlines in EU-Armenia and Armenia-EU destinations.

Tatevik Revazyan stressed that since the European Flight Safety  Team's November 20, 2019 meeting, the CAC has been implementing  consistent action to increase flight safety level in Armenia. She  advised that the above decision could be reconsidered in November,  2022, noting that highly appreciative of the Armenian government's  commitment to improving the flight safety level, the EU aviation  authorities had expressed readiness for cooperation.  Prime Minister  Pashinyan said the Civil Aviation Committee should work out a roadmap  for remedial action by 2022 within a short period of time. The Prime  Minister stressed that steps should be taken not only to improve the  level of flight safety, but also to enhance domestic operators'  competitiveness on the way to developing civil aviation in Armenia.

A number of other issues related to the reform of the Civil Aviation  Committee were discussed during the consultation. The need for  involving qualified specialists, implementing institutional,  legislative and technical improvements was emphasized during the  consultation.

The CAC chairwoman said the Committee has already taken stock of and  diagnosed the problems and relevant solutions are being worked out at  this point of time. Nikol Pashinyan gave her two weeks to develop and  submit a civil aviation committee reform action plan in cooperation  with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.    To recall, yesterday the European Aviation Safety Commission   once  again updated the the EU Air Safety List, which compiles the airlines  that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the  European Union as they do not meet international safety standards,  the EU press service reported. The list is aimed at ensuring the  highest level of air safety for all passengers travelling in the EU.    Air carriers that have received certificates in Armenia are included  in this list. In particular, the restricted list included all  companies certified in the Republic of Armenia: Aircompany Armenia,  Armenia Airways, Armenian Helicopters, Atlantis Armenian Airlines,  Atlantis European Airways, Mars Avia, Skyball.  As the body  emphasized, the list is aimed at ensuring the highest level of air  safety for all passengers travelling in the EU.  ,  the European Commission says.