The United States has downgraded the safety rating of Venezuela, citing continued civil unrest and an inability to meet basic standards for safety.
Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, countries are assigned either a Category 1 or Category 2. In short, Category 1 meets international safety standards and Category 2 does not.
Per its press release, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained the downgrade:
“A Category 2 IASA rating means the country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or its civil aviation authority – a body equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, inspection procedures, or resolution of safety concerns. At this time there are no flights between the United States and Venezuela.”
Concerning Venezuela, the FAA claimed it had conducted an “extensive review” to come to its downgrade conclusion:
“The FAA has determined the Venezuelan regime no longer complies with international aviation safety standards. The FAA recently conducted an extensive review based on safety-related information currently available, and determined that a change in the IASA category is required.”
CONCLUSION
The United States and Venezuela cut diplomatic ties earlier this year after the US declared opposition leader Juan Guaido the rightfully leader of the Bolivarian Republic. All service between the United States and Venezuela had been suspended prior to this safety downgrade. Now flights, even by US airlines, are not longer permissible.
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So this means,Iberia and COPA are putting in danger the life of its clients by flying to Caracas. It would be interesting to obtain a statement from these major airlines on how they guarantee the safety of their pax.
Why in heaven should they? Not everyone has blind faith in US institutions.
Believe me, having been to Caracas on multiple occasions, the safety of your flight is the least of your worries there.
And I’m surprised that it’s taken this long to downgrade Venezuela’s status, especially when you look at some of the other countries on that list. Venezuela’s aviation industry has been in disarray for 10-15 years now. I’ve flown domestic there and it was quite the adventure.
It means little to get a downgrade from FAA about a country thousands of miles away after they certified a deadly plane manufactured in their own country under a scheme of collusion with the manufacturer.
Considering the source of this, from a regime that has defacto declared total war on Venezuela I give it negative credence and consideration