KUALA LUMPUR: Charter airline company Systematic Air Services Sdn Bhd's (SAS) air operations certificate (AOC) expired yesterday, leaving the company unable to perform its flight operations.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud confirmed the matter as the five-month suspension of the AOC expired on July 31 as the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had not renewed the company's air service permit (ASP).
"Yes, expired," he briefly confirmed to the New Straits Times.
According to Malaysian civil aviation regulations, CAAM will only issue an AOC if companies providing air services have ASPs from Mavcom.
With the AOS expired, SAS cannot exercise its flight operations nor provide any service for hire and reward, which was the same as when they were suspended.
Norazman also said that SAS now must apply a fresh application to both Mavcom and CAAM for a new ASP and AOC.
It was previously reported that the CAAM had suspended the company's AOC for three months as Mavcom had not renewed its ASP, which lapsed on Feb 29.
Mavcom had earlier acted due to SAS's failure to pay staff salaries and settle EPF and tax deductions amounting to millions of ringgit.
On March 12, the suspension was extended by 90 days, as Norazman said that SAS was expected to diligently work towards meeting regulatory requirements and secure approval from Mavcom to safely resume operations.
As the technical regulator of the Malaysian aviation industry, CAAM oversees the technical aspects of air operators to ensure that all safety and security standards are met while Mavcom oversees the economic aspect of the civil aviation industry in Malaysia, including the protection of consumer rights.
Meanwhile, the New Straits Times (NST) has reached out to SAS for comments and is awaiting the company's response.