Taiwan's decision to ban new aircraft orders by China Airlines is viewed by industry insiders as designed more for public consumption than any real advance in air safety.
Citing the fatal February crash of a CAL jet at Taipei's international airport, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has temporarily suspended 'further plans for purchases or rentals of new planes' until CAL's 'flight safety and operations improve.' This is the latest move in a government blitz that seems driven by both a desire to enhance air safety and restore public confidence. The ministry, which oversees Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration, notes that China Airlines needed to improve pilot training. Yet its ban does not apply to the 15 aircraft CAL already has on order, due for delivery this year and next. 'The decision will only affect our purchasing plan from 2000,' says a CAL spokesman.
The ban is the latest in a series of symbolic steps which include the resignations of CAL's president, CAL's honorary chairman, Taiwan's transport minister, and the CAA's director general after the February crash.
This represents the latest example of growing government influence over CAL, which has been on the rise since last year when transport officials took control of China Aviation Development Foundation, owner of 71 per cent of CAL. Since then CAL has shelved plans for a partial privatisation, been forced to buy government-owned aircraft to settle a dispute with the transport ministry over interest rates, and is now under pressure to take over its partially-owned subsidiary, Far Eastern Air Transport.
Source: Airline Business
