PH aviation status: A deal to be sealed by Hotchkiss

The government is confident that former Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lieutenant General William Hotchkiss III will be able to lift the country out of its “category 2” ranking by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Hotchkiss, a former member of the PAF’s elite “Blue Diamonds” air acrobatic squad, will be judged mainly on the progress he makes in implementing reforms at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)—the agency he now heads.

Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas on Monday said Hotchkiss’ record in public service, as well as in the private sector, would spell the difference in the reforms to be undertaken in the aviation sector.

“Hotchkiss brings to CAAP his comprehensive air operations experience and proven people management skills,” Roxas said. “A staunch advocate of discipline, good work ethic, and prioritizing safety in air flights, he fits the bill in overseeing the operations of CAAP.”

Hotchkiss replaced Ramon Gutierrez, a former Air Force pilot who later served as a member of former President Corazon Aquino’s Presidential Security Group (PSG) staff. Roxas has made no secret his disappointment over Gutierrez’s failure to get the Philippines back to “category 1” status with the FAA.

The Philippines’ category 2 grade with the United States, which was due to severe lapses in the country’s aviation regulatory framework especially in the area of safety, has prevented local airlines from expanding operations in the United States.