3 days Ago By Chester Robards Senior Business Reporter [email protected]
The Bahamas has retained its category one status in the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Program, as a result of Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas’ (CAAB) quick response to several concerns outlined by the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during an assessment in October of last year, according to a letter from the FAA to CAAB Director General Alexander Ferguson. The letter, which was seen by Guardian Business , praised CAAB’s handing of the FAA’s concerns, explaining that all of them were remedied within an agreed time frame. “Thank you and your team for meeting with Mr.
Robert Ruiz, deputy executive director, Flight Standards Service, and his team during the June 4-6, 2024, visit to hold final discussions for the assessment of Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas, conducted October 16-20, 2023,” the letter said. “The FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program evaluated your government’s compliance with the obligations contained in the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and the aviation safety standards found in its annexes. “Within the time frame agreed, the CAAB presented evidence to the FAA that it has taken positive actions to address all findings of the IASA.
“I am pleased to inform you that the hard work undertaken and completed by your government on its safety oversight system resulted in positive findings during our recent discussions. “We therefore determine that the Commonwealth of The Bahamas meets the pertinent requirements and standards of the Chicago Convention and its Annexes for civil aviation safety oversight. “In consideration of the FAA’s determination based on the corrective actions taken by the CAAB to date, the IASA category for The Bahamas will continue to be published as Category 1.
” The letter adds that while assessment-related activities for The Bahamas have now concluded, the FAA will continue to monitor this country’s compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety standards. Deputy Director General of Tourism Dr. Kenneth Romer said in July that the amendments made by the government to the Civil Aviation Amendment Act, 2024 helped the country to remedy FAA’s concerns and keep the country in good standing with the agency, which continues to monitor this country’s airspace.
“We moved to amend the Civil Aviation Act, which spoke to our priority on state safety and how we would work with international partners to remedy any deficiencies,” Romer said last month. “This landmark amendment reflects the ongoing transformation and awareness of the positive role that aviation plays in the economic development of The Bahamas. “There were some issues raised during the last IASA audit.
I’m pleased that the critical elements have been addressed by an act of Parliament. There have been some amendments.”.
