Lewis

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The lifting of restrictive aerodrome regulations could see a return to the viability of the local aviation industry, says Colonel Torrance Lewis, director general of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA).

In a 10-page response to concerns raised by stakeholders in the industry, the JCAA head tells The Sunday Gleaner that prior to the last 20 years, the fight against drug trafficking in Jamaica resulted in the closure of many private aerodromes which had previously facilitated a viable domestic industry. However, he says that is likely to change owing to the success achieved with radars which have facilitated detection of aircraft in Jamaican airspace.

In a recent Sunday Gleaner article, local aviation operators argued that the island's aviation industry had declined by 80 per cent in the last 20 years and showed dismal expectations of any potential for growth as a result of bureaucratic obstacles and the autocratic posture of the top-heavy regulatory body.

Doomed for failure

While admitting that the local industry had remained stagnant, Colonel Lewis points out that passenger growth through the island's international airports had increased by 93 per cent, or at a rate of 4.65 per cent over the same period. He ascribes the failure and the closure of the facilities to expensive measures employed by operators to prevent unlawful use of the aerodromes.

Obviously unfazed by criticisms that he and his team were autocratic, Colonel Lewis explains that in seeking to achieve an acceptable level of safety, aviation authorities worldwide are perceived as bureaucratic. "This perception," he says "is less in jurisdictions where operators understand the regulatory framework and comply with it." He adds that where aviation regulators relax their safety oversight, the results can and have been catastrophic.

However, local aviation operators claim the JCAA head is hiding under the guise of regulations and safety to divert from the main problems facing the industry: insensitivity to the industry concerns; long duration to process documentation; the ostracising of operators who speak out and, inspectors who act as if they themselves are the law.

"An industry that is overregulated and underled is doomed for failure," notes Howard Levy, managing director of International Airlink. Levy pointed out that the Federal Aviation Authority, Transport Canada and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), have all emphasised that safety is not achieved by over-regulation but through enhancing organisational performance in terms of the three 'Es', effectiveness, efficiency and economy, which reduces accidents, incidents and other interruptions to operation."

He adds that other countries have achieved ICAO standards for safety and security without killing the economic viability of their aviation industry.

Inspections

Of the 75 aircraft registered in Jamaica, outside of Air Jamaica, only 15 of them are operable, and they are regulated by 11 inspectors. "Before there was a JCAA, air-worthiness matters were handled by one English Civil Aviation Authority inspector who was based in Nassau, Bahamas," discloses Dudley Beek, a private-aircraft operator. "He also looked after aircraft on the Bahamas registry and from time to time - Caymanian-registered aircraft, and there was never a problem with renewing aircraft certificates of air worthiness. All were handled promptly and in a professional manner," Beek adds.

Beek is among aviation experts, including Chris Read, president of the Jamaica Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association, who charges that the JCAA is misinformed misguided on policy issues.

This view has been strongly defended by Colonel Lewis, who points to his highly trained and qualified technical personnel who are kept current in their training to meet international standards. In 2005, JCAA staff attended over 50 courses overseas and the organisation, which is funded by Government, spent some $420 million in that same financial year, raising the antennae of industry stakeholders.

The JCAA says the amount of money it spends annually includes remuneration to the 151 persons employed to the organisation. Defending its position on the number of trips made overseas annually, the company said: "The majority of travel is done by our aviation safety inspectors to carry out a programme of inspections that is mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recom-mended procedures. Additionally, air operators request the JCAA to carry out inspections of aircraft and maintenance facilities overseas."

JCAA officials also sit on several international committees and other ICAO regional groupings and must attend these meetings. As the JCAA operates in a highly technical field, there is also need to travel for periodic refresher training and training in new and emerging technology and techniques, the regulatory body advises The Sunday Gleaner.