FAA downgrades Venezuelan aviation-safety rating

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)

United States (US) authorities downgraded Venezuela’s aviation rating Friday, saying that the crisis-torn nation isn’t able to meet basic international standards for airline safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that it recently performed an “extensive review” of Venezuela’s civil aviation authority, leading to the status change.

“The Venezuelan regime does not comply” with international standards, the FAA statement said.

Venezuela’s aviation authorities either lack regulations needed to oversee their carriers at a minimum standard or they don’t have adequate expertise, training, or inspection procedures, among safety concerns, the FAA stated.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the Trump administration cut diplomatic ties earlier this year after US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaído’s bid launched in January to oust the socialist leader.

Venezuela joins countries such as Malaysia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, and Ghana to be deemed below international standards. The rating doesn’t automatically ban a nation’s planes from landing in the US, but they are subject to more restrictions.

However, in March, American Airlines announced that it was suspending its flights between Miami and Caracas. The airline acted after its pilots’ union told members not to operate flights to Venezuela because of safety concerns. American was the last US airline flying to Venezuela.

At about the same time, the US Transportation Department banned passenger and cargo flights between the two countries, citing unrest and safety concerns.

Venezuela’s domestic airlines, Laser Airlines and Avior Airlines, had flown between the two countries, but there are currently no direct flights.

The FAA said that it assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States or participate in code-sharing arrangements with US airlines and that it makes that information public.