The Listín Diario reported that the Federal Aviation Agency of the United States and the Dominican Civil Aviation Board began negotiations in Miami to lift the ban on Dominican aircraft flying to U.S. territory. Manuel Enrique Tavares, advisor to the director of the Civil Aviation Board, is leading the Dominican delegation. A pilot himself, businessman and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce, he is known as an able negotiator and very aware of the topics to be discussed. He is accompanied by technicians from the board that have prepared a document on the measures adopted by the Dominican authorities to ensure the safety of Dominican aircraft.
According to a report in Listin Diario, this month the FAA will send a group of technicians to check the measures adopted here to improve aviation safety. Vitelio Mejia, recently put in charge of the aviation board, said that the D.R. has sufficient equipment to provide an excellent aviation service and that the board is reorganizing itself to fulfill the requirements of the FAA and the OIACI. Members of the board are Antonio Cocco Queza, director of Meteorology; Jose Rodriguez Mejia, aviation safety advisor; Carlos Ramirez, chief air traffic controller; Ivan Vasquez and Luis Polanco, representatives of pilots engaged in private aviation; Ramon Bido, representing commercial aviation; Victor Requena, consultant on aviation law; and Jose Area, for the Association of Airlines.