Air Asia in some trouble - forgot to renew AOC!

[alberttky 0]

Anyone can verify whether this is true?

 

http://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far-east/499215-air-asia-some-trouble.html

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

It's impossible that a company as big as AK can simply "forget" to renew their AOC!

[flee 5]

It's impossible that a company as big as AK can simply "forget" to renew their AOC!

Never say never - weirder things have happened in this country before!

 

For an airline, all legal and regulatory obligations are very important to its existence. If anyone at AirAsia failed to do their job, it would be a major offence and should be punished by a dismissal.

 

Meanwhile, Uncle Tony wants to hear from us:

http://ptc01-0003bs51--0-000011-clien-00000000.treecrunch.com/ptc01-0000bs51--0-000200-campa-00000000/

[BC Tam 2]

I can't help but smell mischief

[Naim 6]

I can't help but smell mischief

 

As in mis-Chief?

[KC Sim 2]

As in mis-Chief?

 

Hahaha, very clever and mischievous of you Niam.

 

Must an AOC be "renewed" at a specific interval ... in which case, someone probably is going to be rapped on the knuckles real hard. I had the impression that an AOC once issued is valid until such time the regulatory body finds something wrong and asks the airline to "show cause" why it should not be revoked. Hopefully someone could shed some light on this.

 

If indeed the AirAsia AOC had lapsed ... and some time is needed for it to be renewed, does it mean the airline has to stop operating in the interim ... or is there provision for a temporary AOC to allow the airline to bridge this phase?

 

KC Sim

[Naim 6]

AOC has date of issue and period of validity.

 

See:http://www.dca.gov.my/Division/Flight_Operation/Document/FOSI%20Handbook%20-%20Vol%202%20AOC.pdf

[Lock SH 0]

Which is normally a 12 months period, subject to DCA audit results.

 

 

[Amirul Mazlan 0]

DCA to suspend AirAsia for AOC lapse? Dream on, Tony Fernandes hold many politicians by their balls, who dares to touch him? Transport Minister? Useless prick.

[Alif A. F. 0]

DCA to suspend AirAsia for AOC lapse? Dream on, Tony Fernandes hold many politicians by their balls, who dares to touch him? Transport Minister? Useless prick.

 

Tourism minister for one will sue DCA first for mischief towards AK and indirectly compromising tourism industry in this country.

[Lock SH 0]

More stories about this matter here :-

 

http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-tale-of-shrinking-tower-and-reach/

 

 

[Geoff R. 0]

If this was true them Air Asia could get aircraft impounded outside of Malaysia for operating illegally, there insurance cover would probably be invalid and the pilots flying the aircraft would be flying illegally so could face being prosecuted.

 

The story sounds unlikely to me but if it is true they should be grounded until it is renewed and heavily fined.

[tktoh 0]

TOP budget airline AirAsia has had its right-to-fly extended by six months rather than the standard two years after an audit by Malaysian regulators found "some issues", an official said Friday.

 

The government official said the department of civil aviation had decided to extend the low-cost carrier's air operator's certificate until March 31 next year, at which point it will need to reapply.

 

The certificates, which allow carriers to use aircraft for commercial purposes, are usually granted for two years.

 

"The department already audited AirAsia, and they only approved six months for AirAsia," the official told AFP.

 

"AirAsia needs to apply again for renewal... next year," he added.

 

The official said the carrier, Asia's largest low-cost carrier by fleet size, faced "some issues... that have been found" but did not elaborate further.

 

A local daily quoted sources, as saying AirAsia failed to meet regulatory standards.

 

The daily said an audit showed "shortcomings in AirAsia's flight operations procedures and practices, including flawed communications between flight operations and pilots, an outdated manual and flight operations not in keeping with the manual".

 

The report also stated that AirAsia's head of flight operations had been removed from their post and replaced.

 

AirAsia did not immediately return requests for comment.

 

"The fact that they have not grounded AirAsia aircraft shows that it's not a serious safety issue, but this action still serves as a warning," a source told the newspaper.

 

Rapidly expanding AirAsia has become one of the airline industry's biggest success stories, rivaling national carrier Malaysia Airlines, which has been struggling to get out of the red.

 

Head Tan Sri Tony Fernandes acquired the then-failing airline a decade ago. He has set up subsidiary budget carriers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan. — AFP

 

http://www.mmail.com.my/story/malaysian-regulators-find-issues-airasia-audit-38526

Edited November 23, 2012 by tktoh

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

I wonder what are the issues that led to the current problem?

[BC Tam 2]

I wonder what are the issues that led to the current problem?

In absence of knowledge of the specifics of issues at hand, perhaps

"..... an audit showed "shortcomings in AirAsia's flight operations procedures and practices, including flawed communications between flight operations and pilots, an outdated manual and flight operations not in keeping with the manual"

may have to suffice for now ?

[BC Tam 2]

The report also stated that AirAsia's head of flight operations had been removed from their post and replaced.

Similar to manner that premier league football managers are relieved of I suppose

Edited November 23, 2012 by BC Tam

[tktoh 0]

Hope it's not because they also went "low cost" on the standard procedures and flight operations

[Geoff R. 0]

I wonder what are the issues that led to the current problem?

 

You would think the travelling public should have the right to know but don't expect to hear from the DCA. In the interests of safety they will keep it secret

 

Geoff

[Ikman Ikreza 0]

Posted on 23 November 2012 - 05:36am

 

Presenna Nambiar

sunbiz@thesundaily.com

 

PETALING JAYA (Nov 23, 2012): AirAsia Bhd has been granted with an air operator's certificate (AOC) by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to fly for another five months -- instead of a two-year period -- for not meeting regulatory standards, said sources.

 

The current AOC is valid until April 2013.

 

Sources told SunBiz that AirAsia had only obtained a six-month AOC -- an approval granted from the DCA to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes -- after periodical audit findings by DCA showed shortcomings in AirAsia's flight operations procedures and practices including flawed communications between flight operations and pilots, an outdated manual and flight operations not in keeping with the manual.

 

The six-month period allows for AirAsia to work with the DCA to bring its flight operations procedures and practices up to mark.

 

It is also understood that AirAsia's head for flight operations has been changed due to the action.

Three key posts in an airline are nominated with the approval of the DCA, namely the head for flight operations, engineering maintenance system and crew training.

 

"The fact that they have not grounded AirAsia aircraft shows that it's not a serious safety issue, but this action still serves as a warning," one source told SunBiz.

 

Scheduled commercial airlines based in Malaysia are awarded two-year renewals of AOC by DCA.

In other markets, depending on the track record of the airline, AOCs can be valid for up to five years before a renewal is due.

 

While the audit is a biennial affair, the DCA conducts inspections on airlines at least once a year.

According to another source, a two-year renewal is given if airlines meet standards set by the regulator. Otherwise they are given a period of time, depending on the issue, to comply before a renewal of AOC is given, or it is revoked entirely.

 

In the event of a withdrawal of an AOC, the airline can work to meet standards set and re-apply for an AOC which will have to be approved by the Cabinet.

 

AirAsia and DCA officials did not respond to questions sent via e-mail, as at press time.

 

An industry observer said it is unlikely that AirAsia will let the situation progress to an outright withdrawal of AirAsia's AOC, ultimately grounding its flights.

 

"They (AirAsia) will definitely address whatever issues DCA have and make sure they bring in the right people and fire the wrong people, because too much is at stake."

 

He added that while the action taken by DCA is unlikely to have any financial impact on AirAsia as a company, it may impact its reputation as an airline and its ability to secure the best deals for financing in the future.

 

Source : http://www.thesundaily.my/news/547797

[Ikman Ikreza 0]

The current AOC is valid until April 2013, so no wonder AK's 11th anniversary sale promotion just until 31 March 2013.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Just in from the AK Gossip Division:

 

AK's AOC was renewed by DCA in mid December 2012. For this current AOC, the new expiration date will be in September 2014.

[Mushrif A 3]

Just in from the AK Gossip Division:

 

AK's AOC was renewed by DCA in mid December 2012. For this current AOC, the new expiration date will be in September 2014.

 

Would the Conspiracy Division confirm if there are any links with the 1Msia program and the favourable stance on the AOC renewal? hahaha....or is community service the punishment?

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

The Conspiracy Division just confirmed that the renewal process does not link to the 1Malaysia program. From the lion's mouth itself, AOC issuance is authorized by the Flight Operation Department in DCA. They look into many aspects of the flight operations department and a little about maintenance of the airline. DCA found shortcomings in AK's flight operations department. So that's why they renewed it for only 6 months earlier on and gave a few recommendations which they wanted the airline to fulfill. Amongst them are to change the Director of Flight Ops, review the flight ops manuals, etc. It was never an issue of safety, maintenance or anything else. AK's obliged and did the necessary changes hence DCA concurred that the changes are for the better and gave an even longer extension for the AOC. People are just worried if AK did not meet safety standards or maintenance or other things. In fact it is the Flight Ops Department that needed a revamp and changes have been carried out.

[flee 5]

I thought AK's original AOC expired in Sept 2012 - so the renewal to Sept 2014 is the same 2 year extension of the AOC. Their temporary AOC to March 2013 was issued so that they could continue to fly while the revamp is carried out.

[BC Tam 2]

Amongst them are to change the Director of Flight Ops, .....

 

Wow, that is really zooming in on one specific individual - wonder what he/she did to deserve that sort of attention