FAA DOWNGRADES MEXICO TO IASA CATEGORY 2
June 14, 2021
On May 25, 2021, the FAA announced that it has downgraded Mexico’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) rating to Category 2 based on an October 2020 to February 2021 reassessment of Mexico’s civil aviation authority (CAA). Under the IASA program, the FAA determines whether a country’s CAA meets minimum ICAO safety standards. Based on the assessment, the FAA will either rate a country as Category 1, meaning the CAA meets ICAO standards, or Category 2, meaning the CAA has failed to meet one or more of those standards.
Air carriers with existing operations to the United States at the time of the downgrade to Category 2 status are permitted to continue operations at current levels under heightened FAA surveillance. However, expansion or changes in services to the United States by such carriers are not permitted while in Category 2, except that new services will be permitted if operated using aircraft wet-leased from a duly authorized and properly supervised U.S. carrier or a foreign air carrier from a Category 1 country that is authorized to serve the United States using its own aircraft.
The FAA has stated that it would work with Mexico’s CAA to resolve the current discrepancies identified in the recent IASA audit, and to provide technical assistance and resources as they work to address these issues.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Andy Orr (aorr@eckertsemans.com or 202-659-6625).
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