Bangkok Airways and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand Discuss Advanced UPRT and Pilot Training Standards

Thailand – Bangkok Airways and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) have held a joint meeting to review aviation regulatory requirements, with discussions covering Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (Advanced UPRT), mutual recognition of pilot training and flight crew fatigue management. Announced on November 2, 2026, the initiative explored ways to align regulatory requirements with airline and Approved Training Organisation (ATO) operations, potentially reducing duplicated training while maintaining aviation safety standards.

• The meeting covered five regulatory areas:
  • pilot training and competency development,
  • Flight Time Limitations (FTL) and fatigue management,
  • aircraft maintenance standards,
  • airport infrastructure requirements, and
  • Safety Management Systems (SMS).
• Discussions on Advanced UPRT focused on preparing pilots and training organisations to comply with applicable requirements, including arrangements for pilots who completed training under earlier regulatory frameworks. Participants also explored ways to improve access to specialised training and further develop pilot competencies.
• Bangkok Airways and CAAT examined opportunities for airlines and ATOs to recognise training completed through each other's approved programs. Such arrangements could reduce unnecessary repetition of training activities and improve the transition between flight schools and airline operations, subject to regulatory acceptance.
• Pilot fatigue management discussions addressed flight and duty time limitations, including greater use of operational data and scientific evidence to assess fatigue-related risks. The parties also considered recurring workshops and industry meetings, alongside systematic collection of information on flight disruptions and operational experience.
• The meeting also reviewed Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR), safety risk management and the application of the Safety Management System Assessment Tool (SMAT). Additional discussions covered approval requirements for overseas maintenance providers and airport infrastructure compliance.
• CAAT previously convened a meeting with Thai ATOs on June 16, 2026, specifically addressing Advanced UPRT implementation. That meeting examined instructor qualifications, trainee eligibility and aircraft suitability under Thailand's TCAR PEL Part-FCL requirements, with reference to ICAO Doc 10011. The latest Bangkok Airways discussions extend engagement on these requirements to airline operations.
• AFM previously reported that CAAT entered into a collaboration with Boeing in September 2026 to deploy its Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Learning Library across participating flight schools in Thailand. The initiative forms part of the regulator's wider efforts to develop standardised pilot training competencies.

Statements

• “Improving civil aviation safety standards requires close cooperation and a shared understanding between regulators and industry operators. CAAT is committed to ensuring that Thailand’s aviation regulations meet international standards, while also listening to feedback and recognizing the practical challenges faced by operators. This approach helps ensure that regulations are clear, practical and effectively implemented. Today's meeting provides an important opportunity to share knowledge, build a common understanding of regulatory requirements and jointly explore ways to improve operations, while keeping safety as our highest priority,” said Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
• “The aviation industry plays a vital role in driving economic growth, supporting tourism and connecting Thailand with the rest of the world. Achieving stable and sustainable growth requires close cooperation among all stakeholders, particularly a shared understanding between regulators and industry operators. This is essential to ensure that standards and requirements for flight operations, aircraft maintenance, airport operations and safety management can be applied correctly and effectively in real-world operations. Such cooperation will help improve aviation safety and strengthen long-term confidence in Thailand’s aviation industry,” Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited.

About Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways is a Thai regional airline headquartered in Bangkok, operating domestic and international passenger services and managing Samui, Sukhothai and Trat airports. Its published operating fleet comprises 22 aircraft, including 11 Airbus A319s, one Airbus A320 and 10 ATR 72-600 turboprops.

Source: Bangkok Airways