Deputies endorse reforms to recover category 1 in aviation safety

By majority, Brunette and his allies, endorsed the proposal of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to modify and repeal various provisions of the Airport Law and the Civil Aviation Law, in order to recover the aviation category 1as well as open happened to create a state airline.

The document, sent to Senate of the Republic For its constitutional effects, it was approved in general, by 263 votes in favor, 210 against, and zero abstentions, and in particular and in terms of the opinion, by 256 votes in favor, 219 against, and zero abstentions.

The analysis of the opinion, which was discussed in two parts, began with the urgency of recovering category 1 in aviation safety, for which the deputies approved empowering the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) to issue technical-administrative regulations on airport matters.

Also, it is established that the AFAC may issue provisions related to the administration, operation, construction and certification of airports and civil aerodromes, as well as master development programs, indicative investment programs, airport and complementary services.

In addition to guaranteeing the safety, security and efficiency of civil air operations, and it is specified that the AFAC It will also have powers for the coordination, surveillance and control of the provision of national and international air transport, airport, complementary and commercial services.

The new standard also mandates harmonizing the technical characteristics of airports with the provisions of international regulations; grant to the AFAC inspection, verification and certification attributions to the authorized inspection units, which replace the certification units; and strengthen the security of civil aviation; 12)

On the subject, the president of the Communications and Transportation Commission, Víctor Manuel Pérez Díaz (PAN), mentioned that two years ago the country lost the category 1 in aviation safety awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA); there is talk of 35 million passengers and the decline in the market from having gone down to category 2 has been enormous, since the United States airlines have announced 35 new routes, while Mexico cannot open any due to the incapacity and the qualification .

In this sense, he urged to implement actions to return to the category 1strengthen the Federal Civil Aviation Agency, make the industry the safest, have more trained personnel and address the observations found in the inspections that were made; we want users to be able to choose the best option to travel, the country to continue to be a magnet for tourism and airports to be safer, as well as the airline industry, that there is real competition that favors users and that rights are respected of all. “That is why we are going together with this decree that manages to return category 1 to us.”

They go by a state airline

The opinion adds the figure of allocation, which will allow parastatal entities of the Federal Public Administration receive assignment for airport administration and airline operations, which, according to Morena and her allies, will favor greater air connectivity.

On this last issue, the document specifies that the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SICT) may authorize parastatal entities of the federal government to assign and manage airports and operate airlines.

Likewise, the project proposed empowering the AFAC to carry out the administrative investigation related to accidents and incidents, to determine the corresponding administrative responsibilities; In addition, it may issue, suspend, cancel or revoke certificates of psychophysical aptitude.

While the initiative promoted mainly by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador y Morena calls for the creation of an aviation medicine area with powers to evaluate technical-aeronautical personnel, raise the minimum and maximum amount to sanction concessionaires or permit holders that do not subject to the itineraries, flight frequencies and authorized schedules; and, penalize concessionaires, permit holders, airport operators and technical-aeronautical personnel who violate the provisions relating to civil aviation medicine.

According to what was expressed by the president of the Infrastructure Commission, Deputy Reginaldo Sandoval Flores (PT), these modifications promote the need for a State company that covers flight connections.

While the deputy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal (PRI) highlighted that with this reform the laws of economic competition are being violated and maintained that “putting the money of Mexicans in an airline is throwing away what can serve to support them in their true needs”. He stressed that “putting money into this is a regressive subsidy. Let’s not throw the scarce money of the Mexicans in a project that has no future”.

It should be noted that this section is intended to ensure that the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) operates its own airline, as President López Obrador has announced.

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