L-R: The Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation; H.E. Eugene G. Newry, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United States of America.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation, along with a delegation of senior officials from The Bahamas, met with United States of America’s Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and senior officials of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday, 16th March, 2015, at the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the high-level talks was to discuss issues relating to the management of the airspace over The Bahamas and to further progress the negotiations which are currently taking place between technical teams from the USA and the Bahamas relative to concluding an airspace management agreement between the Bahamas and the FAA.

In her remarks, Minister Hanna Martin noted the longstanding friendly relations between The Bahamas and the US, and the cooperation between the FAA and the Civil Aviation Department of The Bahamas in aviation security and airspace management in the airspace over The Bahamas and contiguous to both countries. She pointed out that the close proximity of The Bahamas to the USA meant that the airspace was of geostrategic and economic importance to both states, and that the aviation industry was very important for economic activity and social connectivity in The Bahamas, which had some 28 airports located throughout the chain of islands. She underscored the desire of the Government of The Bahamas to formalize a mutually beneficial arrangement with the FAA on matters of overflight fees, revenue sharing and technical cooperation within the framework of the Airspace Management Agreement and associated matters.

L-R: Mr. Loren Klein, Legal Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; H.E. Eugene G. Newry, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United States of America; Mrs. Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation; The Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation; Mr. Ivan Cleare, Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Aviation; Mr. Patrick Rolle, Aviation Consultant, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and Ms. Krissy Hanna, Second Secretary, Embassy of The Bahamas.

The one day visit also included meetings with aviation authorities from the FAA to discuss issues related to the FAA’s proposed regulations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and with officials from the USA State Department to discuss the United States of America’s “Open Skies” proposal for the liberalization of air transportation between countries.

Accompanying Minister Hanna Martin to the meeting was a six-member delegation comprising H.E. Eugene G. Newry, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United States of America; Mrs. Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation; Mr. Ivan Cleare, Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Aviation; Mr. Loren Klein, Legal Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; Mr. Patrick Rolle, Aviation Consultant, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and Ms. Krissy Hanna, Second Secretary, Embassy of The Bahamas.

Minister Hanna Martin and the delegation returned to the capital on Tuesday, 17th March, 2015.

 

L-R: Mr. Loren Klein, Legal Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; Mr. John Hickey, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Aviation, Safety, FAA; Mrs. Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation; Jim Williams, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, FAA; Riche Swayze, Assistant Administrator, Policy, International Affairs and Environment, FAA; The Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation; H.E. Eugene G. Newry, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United States of America; Mr. Ivan Cleare, Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and Mr. Patrick Rolle, Aviation Consultant, Ministry of Transport and Aviation.