The National Association of Pilots, Air Santo Domingo, the Air Century, Aeronaves Dominicanas, Caribair and Servicios Aereos Profesionales urge the government to rescind the Proyecto MSA/DOM/97/801 signed between the Civil Aviation Board and the ICAO, an aviation organization associated with the United Nations. The project was signed supposedly to resolve problems that caused the US Federal Aviation Agency to ban Dominican airlines from flying to the US. The airlines say that initially the project stipulated a payment of US$500,000 of a maximum US$2.5 million that would be spent. Nevertheless, more than US$13.9 million have already been spent, and the project does not guarantee the desired result of restoring Dominican airlines permission to fly to US territory. The airlines say that in four years the most elemental problems that impede Dominican airlines from flying to the US (training of personnel and a new law) have not been resolved. It criticizes that the new authorities are expanding the scope of the project to other areas that are not related to the main problem that needs to be solved. The new government has authorized the continuation of the project, and an additional US$3 million have been allotted. In an open letter to President Mejia they say that it makes no sense at a time when the government seeks new taxes to invest in social and productive areas, that being there more economic, expedite and guaranteed ways to restore Dominican airlines’ right to fly to the US the government continue with the project. They mention an offer of a US company for US$400,000 (Booz Allen & Hamilton) with guarantees made to the CAB in 1995. The airlines publicly note that the new director is clearly incompetent and does not have the needed specialization for a project of this nature. "The dependence and direct benefits received by the project are the main reason that several of those that benefit continue to defend the project," denounce the airlines.
