PARAMARIBO - A delegation from the Transport and Safety Agency (TSA) which is based in the United States of America is currently in Suriname to assess the safety at the nation’s airports and airstrips.
It will mainly carry out an airport safety check at the airports from where planes take off to fly to the United States of America. Sources told Times of Suriname that about 35 airstrips that are located nationwide will be inspected due to the lack of certifications and the failure to meet safety standards. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Suriname (Casas) could not be reached for comment about the current visit of the TSA. The TSA regularly visits Suriname. Not so long ago the European counterpart of the TSA namely the EASA banned Surinamese airlines that are given certification in Suriname from flying to destinations in Europe. Suriname is currently one of the more than 25 countries that have been blacklisted. In its report the EASA made it clear that Casas failed to keep an eye on things in accordance with the international standards of the ICAO and that this puts the safety of the passengers and the civil aviation at risk. The EASA also underlined the fact that Suriname does not have enough qualified people and that there is a lack of proper supervision on all of the flights.