CIVIL AVIATION is viewing the fact that ajet, formerly Helios, was not blacklisted by Brussels on Thursday as a positive step in the right direction, even though the airline was given a “yellow card” by the EU Transport Commission.
The Commission said it was targeting ajet for heavy scrutiny and if it did not improve its safety standards, it could yet find itself blacklisted. It was the first time a European airline was placed in that position.
However Leonidos Leonidou, the Director of Civil Aviation, who was in Brussels for the Commission meeting, said last night the EU had been satisfied with the presentation made by ajet and had decided not to place the airline on the blacklist.
Last month amid reports that ajet would be placed on the blacklist under yesterday’s Commission’s review, the airline, was barred from landing in fog, after authorities deemed it could not guarantee safety in such conditions.
Reports at the time suggested that EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, had arrived at the same conclusion during an inspection last May. According to the reports, the airline lacked the adequate equipment, pilot training and experience to prove it could operate its jets in fog.
“They decided that no negative action would be taken against ajet because they were satisfied that there were no imminent safety problems with the company,” said Leonidou. “They said they would keep an eye on them in the medium to long term.”
Leonidou said it was obvious at the start of the meetings that Commission members had a negative opinion of the airline. “But after the presentation by the company’s management team, they were quite satisfied that they had a team that looked professional,” he added.
He said he was surprised at some of the views that had been expressed by members at the last meeting three months ago. “There was some concern. But the answers they got this time satisfied them,” Leonidou said.
Asked if Thursday’s “yellow card” reflected badly on the reputation of Cyprus, Leonidou said: “Actually the Civil Aviation’s reputation was damaged through the accident last year because at that point it seemed they were not properly manned nor properly organised. However in one year, since I took office, the department is now fully structured.”
He said the Commission was happy that around 80 per cent of their requirements were covered, and 70 per cent in the case of ajet. “They see everything being done 100 per cent as evidence of compliance,” said Leonidou. The remainder of the requirements were currently being put in place and that by the time of the next Brussels review, in three months the work should be complete.
Leonidou said EASA would likely come to Cyprus next year. “They are welcome. They are not against us. They are helping us,” said Leonidou.
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