Washington – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has restored Mexico's air-safety rating to the highest level, concluding that the country once again meets international standards.
The FAA said the decision follows on the heels of a November review of Mexico's civil aviation authority, the DGAC.
"Under the leadership of (Transportation) Secretary Juan Molinar and (DGAC) Director General Hector Gonzalez Weeks, Mexico has made significant progress and is now upgraded from the Category 2 safety rating the country received in July to Category 1," the FAA said.
"At Mexico's request, the FAA will continue to provide technical assistance to support and maintain the changes the civil aviation authority has made," the statement added.
The Category 1 rating means civil aviation authorities comply with safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a Montreal-based U.N. agency.
A Category 2 rating, on the other hand, means a civil aviation authority "does not provide safety oversight of its air carrier operators" in accordance with ICAO minimum standards.
That rating is typically assigned if a country either does not have the laws or regulations necessary to meet those standards or if the civil aviation authority "lacks the technical expertise, resources, and organization to license or oversee air carrier operations."
Other reasons for a downgrade include lack of adequately trained and qualified technical personnel, inadequate inspector guidance to ensure compliance with international standards, insufficient records of previous certifications and lack of ongoing oversight of airlines' operations.
The FAA downgraded Mexico's safety rating in July, a move that did not affect existing flights but prevented Mexican airlines from adding more routes to the United States.
With the Category 1 rating now restored, Mexican airlines can improve their service to the neighboring country.
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