The Listín Diario has reported that technicians from the Federal Aviation Agency of the United States (FAA) have begun a preliminary inspection in Santo Domingo, one of the steps that may lead to the lifting of the ban on Dominican registered aircraft flying to the United States. Two specialists from the FAA arrived last week to work closely with Dominican civil aviation executives. The Listín reported that the government has hired the services of a U.S. consultant firm in order to better fulfill the requirements of the FAA. At the present time, Dominican airlines interested in exploiting their routes to the U.S. must lease foreign registered equipment. This has particularly hit Dominican cargo airlines.