EASA to inspect Philippines' safety standards in Oct-2010

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) plans to visit the Philippines to conduct an audit on progress in improving its aviation safety standards on 18-Oct-2010 to 22-Oct-2010 (Business Mirror, 26-Aug-2010). The outcome of the visit is to be reviewed by the European Union at the European Union Air Safety Conference in Nov-2010. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General, Alfonso Cusi, stated the visit provides the "perfect opportunity for the country to convince the union that it has improved the security and safety standards of its aviation industry". CAAP is hoping to have Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific removed from the EU's airline blacklist. Mr Cusi stated that although CEB has never planned to launch services to Europe, as it is one of the country's major airlines, "we have to get it cleared, according to the union's standards". PAL stated it has always been ready for the inspection.