Redjet is scheduled to start flying between Barbados and Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad in early May
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday April 13, 2011 – Any hopes by Barbadians that they would soon be flying new low-cost carrier REDjet to the United States has been set-back by US flight regulators.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Tuesday that Barbados does not meet standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which means that no Barbados-based airline that does not already serve the US (currently just REDjet), can establish a route to the US. Redjet received operation approval from Barbadian flight regulators this week and is scheduled to start flying between Barbados and Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad in early May.
The US FAA assigned Barbados a Category 2 safety rating, which means that Barbados does not comply with international safety standards set by ICAO (a United Nations technical agency), based on an assessment by Barbados’ civil aviation authority.
An International Aviation Safety Assessment Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping or inspection procedures, the FAA stated.
However, FAA spokeswoman, Alison Duquette, stressed that the FAA's assessment does not mean regulators think it is unsafe for airlines based elsewhere to serve Barbados.
In speaking to the media on this issue, Minister of International Transport George Hutson acknowledged the problem but gave the assurance that by month-end major steps would be taken to help bring the island fully in line with the ICAO’s aviation safety oversight provisions.
Minister Hutson pointed out that over the past few years the island "has been taking steps to satisfy the international requirements for aviation safety oversight" and that the island had satisfied seven out of nine required elements.
"Of these ... nine elements ... Barbados has fully satisfied seven and is in the process of addressing the others. These elements addressed are the Civil Aviation System and increasing the required number of personnel to adequately staff the Civil Aviation Department," he said on Tuesday evening.
"In this regard the Government is working with the International Civil Aviation Organisation on a strategic study to inform on the structure, staffing and organisation of the entity to administer and direct civil aviation in Barbados." Hutson said the exercise "is expected to begin by the end of April and is expected to be completed by the end of May".
"Following the recommendations from the ICAO, the necessary actions can be taken to satisfy the two outstanding requirements," he stated.
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