The Dominican Republic has successfully passed an audit conducted by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and keeps its Category 1 rating in the civil aviation system, the government announced on Tuesday, 13 August 2024.
Tourism Minister David Collado, who oversaw the FAA audit, revealed that this was the first inspection of its kind since 2008. “Our country hadn’t been inspected since 2008, and we received this audit with a 30-day deadline, but we had already initiated preparations,” Collado stated.
He acknowledged that US State Department officials had expressed doubt about the country’s ability to pass the audit due to 68 findings that needed to be addressed. However, the Dominican Republic was able to rectify these issues and obtain certification to keep its Category 1 status.
“The President has a clear vision of wanting Dominican airlines to fly to foreign skies, especially the United States. Never before in history have we seen such monolithic unity from all parties to modify a law (Aviation Civil Law 491-06) in 60 days. That was the big challenge. If we hadn’t modified the law with the points requested by the FAA, it would have been impossible to maintain Category 1 status,” he explained.
In the concerted effort, others who played an important role were the Dominican Civil Aviation Board (JAC), the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), the Airport Department, private airport owners, local airlines, the Air Force and the Presidency of the Republic. Together they worked to ensure that the Dominican aviation passed the FAA audit (the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program) that enables the country to remain in Category 1. Category 1 means the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with US carriers.
During the event held at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 to announce the passing of the audit, President Luis Abinader highlighted the importance of this achievement, emphasizing the need for competition in the aviation sector.
“First, we must consider tourism and the country’s growing participation as a logistics hub. Above all, there is a need for competition in the aviation sector, and maintaining Category 1 status is fundamental for companies established in the Dominican Republic to travel to the United States and compete with our American airline friends,” the President stated.
He added that the goal going forward is to surpass safety standards, “with a protocol that we will follow every so often and we will conduct our own safety inspections.”
Following more than 25 years of negotiations, the governments of the United States and the Dominican Republic on 2 August 2024 signed an Open Skies agreement last week to advance bilateral aviation cooperation.
The agreement aims to strengthen existing ties and create new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers. The agreement yet needs to pass in Congress and the Constitutional Court.
Attending the activity at the Presidential Palace were Patricia Aguilera, charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in the DR; Hector Porcella, then director general del Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (IDAC); Víctor Pichardo, director ejecutivo del Departamento Aeroportuario; Frank Elías Rainieri, president of the Grupo Puntacana; Major General Carlos Febrillet, then commander of the Air Force.
Also José Marte Piantini, then president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), Brigade General Floreal Suárez, then director general of the Airport Security Specialized Corps (Cesac), among others.
Brigade General Floreal Suarez was promoted as new commander of the Air Force, and Hector Porcella was named president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) for the second term of the Abinader administration.
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Diario Libre
IDAC
FAA IASA Program results
20 August 2024