Azerbaijan able to operate direct flights to U.S.
By Nazrin Gadimova
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ranked Azerbaijan in category 1 for aviation safety, the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan announced.
This will allow Azerbaijani airlines to operate direct flights to the U.S.
"This categorization will permit Azerbaijani air carriers to initiate direct flights to the United States, which will support the development of tourism and cargo trade between the two countries," the embassy said.
FAA determined that the Azerbaijani State Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) is effectively fulfilling its safety oversight obligations as a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization in all eight critical elements.
According to the embassy, the determination was made following a Technical Review mission to Azerbaijan conducted by an FAA team in October, 2013, and subsequent comprehensive technical discussions with the SCAA in December, 2013 and January, 2014 to review the progress that SCAA made.
"The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is pleased to have contributed to the SCAA's improvements in aviation safety oversight that resulted in the category 1 determination.
"By particularly funding two phases of aviation safety technical assistance, the U.S. government demonstrated its commitment to helping the SCAA achieve the international standard in the oversight of its aviation system," the embassy said.
"We would like to congratulate the Azerbaijani government for its diligent work, professionalism, and dedication over the course of the past several years to attain this categorization. The U.S. government looks forward to continuing its work with Azerbaijan in the field of civil aviation," the statement reads.
State Civil Aviation Administration is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulating activities in the sphere of civil aviation in the country. SCAA was established by the Presidential Decree on December 29, 2006 with the purpose of regulation and improvement of civil aviation on the territory of Azerbaijan and development of cooperation with international aviation bodies.