Mavcom denies re-issuing air service permit for troubled charter airline firm

 

Systematic Aviation Services Sdn Bhd’s air services permit lapsed on Feb 29, while its air operations certificate was suspended on March 12. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has denied claims that the air service permit (ASP) for troubled charter airline firm Systematic Aviation Services Sdn Bhd (SAS) was re-issued, saying it remained lapsed as of Feb 29 this year.

An ASP is required for licensees to transport passengers, mail or cargo by air “for hire or reward”, on a non-schedule basis between any two or more places, one of which falls within Malaysia’s borders.

“Mavcom has not re-issued an APS to SAS on a permanent or temporary basis,” it said in a statement to FMT, when asked to respond to a note purportedly sent to SAS employees.

The note stated that SAS had obtained a “recent uplift from Mavcom for us to continue operations”.

Mavcom said on June 7 that the ASP for the firm had not been renewed as SAS did not meet the licence conditions set by the commission.

It said it was also waiting for SAS to resubmit its ASP application.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia also suspended SAS’s certificate of operation after the non-renewal of its ASP. Both licences are interconnected.

Former senior officials at the company previously revealed that SAS had not sought to renew its ASP, with unpaid staff salaries and non-settlement of EPF and tax deductions “running into millions of ringgit”.

The aviation company was formed in 1992 and operates from the SAS hangar at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.

Its nature of business is listed as aviation specialist advisory and consultancy services in air transportation, including the leasing or sub-leasing of aircraft equipment, spares and related machinery.

SAS also describes itself as providing helicopter and fixed-wing services. - FMT