Israeli aviation regains highest safety rating

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that Israeli carriers have now received the highest rating for safety — level 1 — after being downgraded to level 2 in 2008. The FAA informed Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Giora Rom of the upgrade after a team of senior inspectors studied the authority’s compliance with international standards and found that Israeli carriers are indeed operating in accordance with the standards.

A category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee airline safety or its civil aviation authority — equivalent to the FAA for safety matters — lacks technical expertise or trained personnel, or is deficient in its record keeping or inspection procedures.

At a press conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said that thanks to the safety upgrade, Israeli airlines that fly to the U.S. would no longer be restricted in terms of destinations, types of aircraft, and most importantly joint ticketing deals with American airlines, as they have been in the last three and a half years.

The upgrade will also enable Israel to finally implement the „open skies” agreement it signed with the U.S. two years ago. Under the agreement, the two countries will share flight codes and will be able to operate flights from other countries to the U.S. and other destinations as well.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Katz by phone on Thursday for restoring the highest safety rating. Representatives of Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia and Israir were also glad to receive the news and thanked everyone responsible for achieving the upgrade.

Katz vowed upon entering office that he would concentrate on regaining the highest safety rating for Israeli carriers and instructed the aviation authority to cooperate with a special FAA team to remedy all failures.

The joint team rewrote instruction guides, renewed the licenses of leading carriers, and revised the Pilot Law. FAA team members visited Israel once every two months to advise Israeli personnel on how to meet international aviation standards.

Rom said that Israel’s aviation authority still faces many challenges in the aftermath of the processes that were implemented in order to reclaim the level 1 safety status. According to Rom, further legislation is required, carriers need to receive additional licenses and all categories of aviation — civilian, sportive flights and unmanned aerial vehicles — need to undergo the same changes.