NEWS Alert

TWG Promotes US-Mongolia Direct Air Service in Ulaanbaatar

June 13, 2019 – During the week of June 3-7, TWG Partner Ronce Almond and TWG Senior Advisor and Former FAA Acting Administrator Barry Valentine promoted the US-Mongolia aviation relationship as part of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia (AmCham Mongolia)’s Aviation Week in the capital of Ulaanbaatar.

TWG and AmCham Mongolia kicked off the week with meetings at the US embassy and Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (CAAM). During these meetings, Mr. Almond and Mr. Valentine discussed with US Ambassador Michael Klecheski and leading CAAM officeholders the opportunities and challenges presented by rapid growth in Mongolia’s aviation sector. TWG and AmCham also toured the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport, which is scheduled to commence operations in May 2020, according Mongolian authorities, and will triple passenger capacity and increase cargo capacity ten-fold.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV Mongolia, Mr. Almond highlighted the potential benefits and challenges involved in establishing direct air service to the United States. He noted that in order for a Mongolian air operator, such as MIAT, to operate to the United States, U.S. government authorities must provide approval in three areas – economic rights, safety approval, and security approval.

During the week, Mr. Almond and Mr. Valentine also participated in meetings with a wide range of other government and aviation industry stakeholders, including senior representatives from the Office of the President of Mongolia, Ministry of Road and Transportation Development (MRTD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Eznis Airways, AeroMongolia, and Mongolian Aircraft Industries.

During the week, Mr. Almond and Mr. Valentine also participated in meetings with a wide range of other government and aviation industry stakeholders, including senior representatives from the Office of the President of Mongolia, Ministry of Road and Transportation Development (MRTD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Eznis Airways, AeroMongolia, and Mongolian Aircraft Industries.

AmCham and TWG hosted the culminating event, the Aviation Roundtable, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Participants included the U.S. Embassy, MRTD, CAAM, MIAT, and other stakeholders in the Mongolian aviation community. During the event, TWG provided an overview of the rigorous process that must be completed in order for Mongolian carriers to launch direct flights to the U.S. As part of that process, Mr. Almond and Mr. Valentine underscored the importance of demonstrating an effective safety oversight system via regulatory compliance with Annex 1, 6 and 8 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944. TWG also outlined how the Mongolian government might achieve the FAA Category 1 (compliant) safety rating required for such flights. Gary Biondo, AmCham Mongolia’s Vice Chairman, praised TWG’s presentation for laying the groundwork for pursuing a direct air link between Mongolia and the US. AmCham noted that TWG has a 100% success rate in assisting countries with obtaining FAA Category 1 and establishing direct service to the U.S.

About The Wicks Group:

The Wicks Group, based in Washington, D.C., is a multi-disciplinary law and consulting firm that provides specialized services to clients with aviation and transportation-related interests world-wide. TWG advises foreign governments worldwide on achieving their civil aviation development objectives, whether achieving compliance with international standards and best practices in aviation regulation and governance.

For more information on TWG’s legal and consulting services, please contact Mr. Ronce Almond at ralmond@wicks-group.com or Mr. Barry Valentine at bvalentine@wicks-group.com.

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