The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE aviation sector offers substantial opportunities for economic diversification according to a leading aviation legal expert who told Tribune Business, ‘we just need to be creative in our thinking’.

Llewellyn Boyer-Cartwright, a Callenders & Co senior associate who has long stressed the importance of developing a Bahamian aircraft registry, commended the efforts of Sky Bahamas CEO Randy Butler on his proposed maintenance hangar, saying that it has the potential to become a regional maintenance hub and airline parts facilitator. Boyer-Cartwright, the first Bahamian admitted to the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association said that significant employment opportunities could be generated for young Bahamians within the sector.

“I think what Mr Butler envisions supports what I have been saying all along in terms of there being jobs that can be created for young Bahamians coming out of school.

“I believe that a lot of kids go off to college and come back and are still not too sure about what they want to do. It may be that that’s not the ideal form of formal education that they need and perhaps they need a more hands on vocational training.

“If they have an interest in aviation this is certainly one aspect and this could open up a future for them not just in becoming an aircraft mechanic but perhaps an engineer, or air worthiness inspector. There are many possibilities,” said Boyer-Cartwright.

 “When you talk about diversifying the economy I think aviation offers so many opportunities, we just need to be creative in our thinking,” said Boyer-Cartwright.

Mr Boyer-Cartwright said that it was difficult to put a number on the amount of jobs that could be generated but said: “I think it could certainly be substantial.”

Mr Boyer-Cartwright added: “What if in conjunction with a maintenance repair facility we have a facility that can store parts. That’s another aspect of it. Look at the logistics, instead of waiting for a part to come from Miami it could be here, saving time and money. You would need to have someone to turn that facility which requires quite a bit of skill and knowledge. You would need someone to manage the stores. These parts can also be brought in duty free and again that stimulates what can be available here. There are many possibilities.”

Mr Boyer-Cartwright told Tribune Business that aircraft registry talks have progressed with the government.