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Pilots will need to show valid badges as govt clamps down on hackers

Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar.

Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar.

As of Thursday, December 5, 2019

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PILOTS seeking access to restricted areas of airports will have to display a valid identification badge to gain entry, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday in the House of Assembly. 

This is one of the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority’s (BCAA) measures to clamp down on the problem of unlicensed pilots, also known as “hackers”, performing commercial flights.

“Right now any pilot can jump on the ramp and go where they want that to go,” he said. “That’s a major contributing factor for a number of the accidents we have had.”

To receive a badge, pilots will have to meet all legal requirements, including having necessary medical and professional certifications.

Mr D’Aguilar made his comments during debate yesterday on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority and Regulations Bill. The Bill would make the authority independent of the BCAA as required by the International Civil Aviation convention to which this country is a signatory.

The Bill, which passed the House of Assembly yesterday and will now head to the Senate, specifies how records received in the course of investigations must be protected. Among other things, it makes it illegal for a person to circulate, publish or give access to a draft investigation report or any document obtained during an investigation of an accident or incident.

Chester Cooper, opposition deputy leader, said he fears some of these considerations of confidentiality “might fly in the face of the Freedom of the Information Act, if ever enacted by this government.”

“The need for public awareness leading to public safety should outweigh the need to protect what those involved in the investigation believe should be kept secret,” he said.

The bill stresses that the findings of air accident investigators cannot be used in criminal proceedings. The role of air accident investigators is to ascertain the facts, not ascribe blame. 

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin and PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis expressed concern about this, however, saying it may fly in the face of the emerging jurisprudence on the matter.

Nonetheless, the bill was passed yesterday evening with unanimous support of the governing and opposition parties.

Comments

truetruebahamian 5 years ago

It has always been the protocol to show identification but familiarity and buddy shoulder slaps have been an ongoing problem, me being a pilot and going through General Aviation and other Bahamian FBO's for more than thirty years and seen inexperienced, or underqualified or drunk as rats pilots take themselves and side pocket paying passengers out on the ramps and not even doing their pre flight checks. I always wondered who was benefitting and who monitored who when where and what. Many were not fully qualified to captain the aircraft of which they were in charge and in which they claimed to be proficient!

rqd2 5 years ago

How's this going to work for foreign pilots flying in for a short trip?

Economist 5 years ago

***The bill stresses that the findings of air accident investigators cannot be used in criminal proceedings. The role of air accident investigators is to ascertain the facts, not ascribe blame.

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin and PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis expressed concern about this, however, saying it may fly in the face of the emerging jurisprudence on the matter.***

Glenys Hanna Martin was the minister for aviation she should know that the same applies to investigation around the world. Then again she was a worthless minister

The_Oracle 5 years ago

Again, a critical failure of Government to eliminate a vary long standing problem involving public safety. Again, writing and enacting more legislation or over come lack of enforcement of existing legislation/law.

jus2cents 5 years ago

Lack of Enforcement of the Existing Laws is the nations single largest problem, and that is across the board. And the slow court system adds to the problem.

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years ago

Vince must have donated signficant funds to every educational institution his dumb son ever attended - it's so obvious the twit has zero common sense!

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