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News : Bahamas Information Services Updates Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Modernization Process Continues in Bahamas Aviation Sector
By Betty Vedrine, BIS
Jun 20, 2016 - 1:10:50 PM

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Nassau, Bahamas –- The Aviation sector is one of the key components in the country’s economy. During her contribution to the 2016/2017-budget debate on Thursday, June 17, Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, said that as a result, all efforts must be taken to ensure that it operates at the highest standards.

“The aviation sector is a key component in our national life: it facilitates the tourism economy and assures our social cohesion as an archipelagic people,” said the Minister.

“It is no surprise, therefore that we would have some 56 airports in this country, 29 of which are government owned and operated.”

She said that over the past four years, the Government has been actively engaging in a process to modernize the country’s aviation sector. The process, she says, involved multiple approaches on all levels, including the restructuring of the civil aviation agencies that oversee and operate the aviation machinery in the country.

“Mr. Speaker you will recall we recently debated and unanimously passed legislation in this House for the creation of a regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority, to be responsible solely for the oversight of safety and security protocols and systems at aerodromes and in aviation nationwide.

“The legislation also creates an air navigation agency, the BANSD for the management of air traffic nationwide and for the maintenance and management of ancillary equipment and technology such as radars and navigation aids and communications equipment for the facilitation of air traffic management.

“You will recall that Family Island airports and their operations will transfer to the Airport Authority into their newly created Family Island Division; and an accident and investigation unit has been created out of the office of the Minister of Aviation which will be mandated to investigate aviation accidents and in the promotion of aviation safety.”

She said that the process is in its final phases and she anticipates that the transition would be complete within the next six months.

This, she believes, would subsequently create a ‘transparent and reputable’ aviation sector, which would be fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Additionally, she said that from a technical standpoint, the Civil Aviation Department has been building capacity, which affect, human, technological and infrastructural reform over the past four years.

To this end, the Government has purchased and installed anew, state-of-the-art ASR12 Radar system from Indra Sistemas of Spain.

“This major technology acquisition has remediated what has been in effect a tenuous situation with our radar system for many years,” she said.

“Additionally the new APP Building, the Approach Control Centre has been constructed from which radar controllers will operate and where controllers are being trained with the state of the art simulators housed in that building.”

Air traffic Controllers and airway facility staff have already completed training in Spain. The government has already recruited 10 new air traffic controllers and additional 10 will be added to staff as time progresses.

Other recruits include five new radar technicians who will supplement the maintenance unit. She said that over the last four years, the first-ever cadre of six aerodrome inspectors have been hired to oversee safety and security at all airports in The Bahamas.

In addition, two Airworthiness Inspectors for Flight Standards Inspectorate, one Operations Inspector for the Flight Standards Inspectorate and one Cabin Safety Inspector for the Flight Standards Inspectorate have been recruited. The Department is currently in the process of recruiting and additional two Airworthiness inspectors and one Operations inspector.


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