The Bahamas has made an application to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for the control of its own airspace.
Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin confirmed Sunday the application was made recently, with the United Nations body responsible for aviation issues worldwide.
“As members we have made an application for the control of our own airspace. That was done some weeks ago and we expect the application will be heard early next year, and we anticipate that there should be no difficulty,” Minister Hanna-Martin said in a telephone interview.
“Pursuant to the application we have been engaging in discussions with the Federal Aviation Authority, who have and continues to control the airspace over our geographical location, and because they have some concerns about it we have been discussing those issues with them. And additionally we would have to dialogue with other neighbouring nations which include Haiti and Cuba,” she said.
The Bahamas will be entitled to collect overflight fees from all aircraft’s using Bahamian airspace and those fees will have to be used for the development of aviation.
However, Minister Hanna-Martin noted that this move would require significant technological upgrade and additional trained personnel.
It has yet to be determined the dollar amount of the user fees to be charged, as that matter is still under investigation. It is understood that a number of countries user fees range anywhere between $7 to $20.
During 2003/2004 budget communication, Prime Minister Perry Christie disclosed that the introduction of a Flight Information Region (FIR) would enable The Bahamas to collect as much as $50 million each year to manage its airspace and that this revenue would be used primarily to develop and upgrade the nation’s airports.
While The Bahamas maintains “sovereign” control of its airspace, Mr Christie indicated that air navigation requirements of overflight aircraft are presently provided by U.S. controllers, with their Bahamian counterparts primarily providing “Approach/Departure Control” and limited “Enroute” services within a designated area.
Mr Christie also said a Canadian team is assisting the government with a view to introducing
Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
