FAA begins safety audit of Mexico's aviation agency

Auditors from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have begun a review of Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) to evaluate compliance with international operational safety regulations. The audit aims to determine how well Mexico adheres to standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Sources indicate that the Mexican aeronautical authority has already responded to a questionnaire containing approximately 300 questions. The review has covered five ICAO annexes related to areas such as licensing, airports, and navigation. Formal findings or recommendations are expected to be released around September following an in-depth analysis of the collected data.

Failure to resolve the issues identified in this review could result in the FAA downgrading Mexico to Category 2 status. Mexico previously faced a Category 2 downgrade in May 2021 but regained Category 1 status in September 2023. Experts note that while diplomatic management with the U.S. has improved, the AFAC still faces structural challenges regarding budget, technical capacity, and administration.