NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A proposed flat fee on flights using Bahamian airspace could cause a significant decline in private aviation visits to The Bahamas, an aviation industry representative has warned.
Rick Gardner, director of CST Flight Services and a Bahamas Flying Ambassador, said the proposed Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) fee would disproportionately affect smaller aircraft. His company provides flight coordination and trip support to the private aviation industry.
“The fee is completely out of proportion in comparison to other fees in the area, such as Cuban airspace fees. In addition, the BACSWN fee is flat and not based on the size of the aircraft. This will have a disproportionately devastating effect on small aircraft, especially private aviation. I expect a very significant decline in private aircraft visits to The Bahamas if this fee is implemented,” Gardner said.
The objection follows warnings from Bahamian aviation operators about fees proposed under an agreement with BACSWN signed last year. An earlier proposal outlined a $775 charge for each flight using Bahamian airspace, with $225 identified for BACSWN’s meteorological services, although BACSWN subsequently indicated its share could be lower without providing a revised figure. Operators have warned that a charge applied per flight could weigh most heavily on smaller aircraft serving the Family Islands, raising fares and charter costs and affecting tourism and the cost of moving goods. Gardner questioned which services BACSWN would provide and how they would relate to the work of existing government agencies.
“It is difficult to understand why The Bahamas would even contemplate this given that the Bahamas Air Navigation Services (BANSA), Bahamas Department of Meteorology and Bahamas Defense Force already provide many of the services that will purportedly be provided by BACSWN. Introducing a private entity into responsibilities already provided by the government is confusing,” he said.
Gardner also raised questions about BACSWN chief operating officer Michael Strachan’s role as The Bahamas’ ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. He estimated that 10 automated weather observation stations could be installed and put into operation for less than $5 million, compared with the reported $427 million value of the wider BACSWN agreement.
Separately, Airlines for America (A4A), which represents major commercial passenger and cargo carriers, on Thursday said in a statement that it objects to both BACSWN’s proposed meteorological fee and air navigation charges imposed by the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA).
“A4A member airlines have long questioned the legitimacy of overflight charges imposed by the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA) for air navigation services that are already provided by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). We now have strong objections to a new unjustified fee the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network Ltd (BACSWN) proposes to charge carriers for a service that is not being provided,” the group said.
“Under no circumstances should aviation charges result in users being charged twice for the same service.”
A4A said it would continue working with the US government and pursue available remedies to challenge charges it considers unjustified, excessive or duplicative.
