Patthapong discusses with private sector the upgrade of the Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center and pushes Phetchabun Airport as a Sandbox for testing eVTOL-UAM flying taxis.
The Deputy Minister of Transport meets with aviation agencies and private companies to promote the development of the aircraft maintenance center and selects Phetchabun Airport for flying taxi trials.
On 17 August 2026, at the Civil Aviation Training Center meeting room in Bangkok, Mr. Patthapong Pataraprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, chaired a meeting to discuss enhancing the capability of Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. The meeting emphasized transparent and fair private sector participation and accelerated integration of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft test projects.
Patthapong revealed that the government views the MRO and Private Jet Terminal projects as highly beneficial to the country. The information from today's discussions will be carefully reviewed with relevant agencies, focusing on transparent and fair private sector involvement and prioritizing national interests. He assigned the Department of Airports (DOA) to proceed with feasibility studies and subsequent steps.
A study of aircraft maintenance demand at Krabi Airport showed that minor maintenance is mainly needed for international flights, as most Thai airlines have in-house maintenance capabilities. However, establishing MRO activities must strictly adhere to safety standards, hazardous materials management, waste disposal, and airport security systems to avoid disrupting normal airport operations. Phetchabun Airport has been chosen as the central Sandbox for eVTOL-UAM flying taxi trials.
Regarding progress on developing pilot areas for new aviation innovations (UAM and eVTOL), Patthapong stated that the government promotes these technologies to enhance air transport efficiency and support public health and medical supply transport to remote areas. The DOA has been instructed to coordinate with the Forestry Department on land use rights, while the Civil Aviation Authority, DOA, and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand have been tasked to expedite the project at Phetchabun Airport.
Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand have been ordered to finalize regulatory frameworks for safety oversight, technological standards, and air traffic management systems. This will advance Phetchabun Airport as a regional hub for testing and integrating innovative aviation technologies. The Civil Aviation Authority noted that Phetchabun Airport is highly suitable as a Sandbox because it currently has no commercial flights, only government, private, and training aircraft, allowing efficient scheduling for drone and eVTOL test flights without affecting existing operations.