Bahamasair officials said yesterday that they have met today’s deadline set by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States for the installation of bulletproof cockpit doors.
The new requirements were put in place after the September 2001 terror attacks on the United States when terrorists hijacked four commercial planes, crashing two into the World Trade Centre in New York, on into the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. and another in a field in Pennsylvania.
Last week, airline officials expressed concern that some of their aircraft would not be outfitted in time to meet the FAA deadline, but Chief Operating Officer Charles Beneby told the Bahama Journal that the airline will have no problems flying into the United Stats as most of the planes now have bulletproof cockpit doors.
“We have completed, I would say about 90 percent of the work now and the majority of the aircraft in the fleet would have their qualified cockpit doors installed,” Mr. Beneby said. “We were very pleased with the progress today.” He said the goal was to complete the work without any interruptions to the airline’s schedule. “I think for the most part, we have been able to achieve that goal,” he said.
As of last week, Mr. Beneby said Bahamasair had five Dash-8 aircraft and two jets. A bulletproof door for each of the aircraft cost around $23,000.
Mr. Beneby hinted yesterday that there may have been some changes to the airline’s fleet. But Works and Utilities Minister, Bradley Roberts denied this today.
Last November, during his party’s convention, Minister Roberts said that the board of directors of the airline had recommended that Bahamasair speedily move to lease two additional Dash 8 aircraft.
The lease of the two planes, Minister Roberts said was expected to improve the company’s annual revenue base by $5 million.
Minister Roberts said that the board had also asked the government’s approval to off load two outdated 737-200 aircraft and replace them with the lease of newer and more cost-efficient 737-300 aircraft to provide lift in Freeport as well as to meet peak demands on Bahamasair’s existing routes.
But as airline executives report that they have secured additional planes, an official of the union that represents the airline said that Bahamasair was bracing for a downsizing exercise that could create industrial strife.
By Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
