The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has formally requested authorization from the Venezuelan National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) to conduct a technical inspection next April 17th.

The petition was made in a communiqué the US ambassador William Brownfield sent to INAC president Francisco Plaz Fleitas, official news agency ABN reported.

Plaz Fleitas, however, ensured that even though FAA pays this visit on April 17th, a previously announced prohibition for US carriers to fly from and to Venezuela is be in effect as of March 30th.

He stressed that the communiqué from the US Embassy requested INAC to prepare for an inspection of the Venezuelan aeronautics sector on April 17th. Such an evaluation is to take place as per the US International Aeronautics Safety Evaluation Program.

"We disagree with them conducting a safety inspection on us. But we are open to let them pay a visit to the country, which would be non-binding, and evaluate the report the International Civil Aviation Organization issued in 2004."