Authorities expect to bring in about $5 million in revenue during this fiscal year through the introduction of what is known as a Flight Information Region (FIR).
“Embarking on the FIR doesn’t simply mean implementing the system, but rather a number of negotiations have to be put in place,” Minister Hanna Martin said.
“The American government will have an interest in it because they currently control our airspace,” she explained. “There will also be discussions with Haiti and Cuba because there is some overlapping space there. Additionally, we have to raise the matter with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and make an application for the right to control our airspace. And so, it’s not a straightforward matter, but rather a lengthy process that we are actively engaged in.”
According to Civil Aviation Director Cyril Saunders once The Bahamas takes over its entire airspace it will be able to provide total radar coverage following the implementation of radars and communication centres in both Grand Bahama and Great Inagua.
Certain fees will kick in for foreign aircraft as soon as they enter Bahamian airspace, according to the plan, which was first announced by Prime Minister Perry Christie during his budget communication to parliament in May.
The introduction of the FIR is one of the measures geared at improving revenue intake for the Treasury.
The Prime Minister said: “This new source of revenue, taken in conjunction with expenditure moderation, with revenue buoyancy as the economy expands, and with very much firmer revenue enforcement measures to counter fraud and evasion, presents us with the possibility of eliminating the GFS deficit within a reasonable period of years without the necessity for more revenue measures which would impact on Bahamian people.”
At the time, the Prime Minister revealed that the government was then in talks with Canadian consultants over putting in place the necessary facilities.
Mr. Christie further pointed out that in addition to annual fees, which would amount to between $40 million and $50 million in the medium term, assuming the responsibility for air traffic control would also result in the creation of some 120 high quality jobs for Bahamians.
The new arrangement would mean an estimated $5 million in net revenue, according to the prime minister.
Yesterday, Minister Hanna Martin said, “Because of the considerable amount of traffic that would be involved, we would need significantly more air traffic controllers.”
By Macushla Pinder, The Bahama Journal
