Airport Safety
The Air Navigation Order requires that, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, flights for the public transport of passengers, or for certain types of flying instruction, take place only at a licensed aerodrome or a government aerodrome (the TCICAA does not currently regulate government aerodromes).The TCICAA issues licences to aerodromes which establish that they have been inspected and found to meet safety requirements. This licensing process ensures continuous oversight of safety standards.A programme of regular aerodrome safety audits is enhanced by our continuing work to develop strategies to counter hazards that include:
- the risk of birdstrikes
- the protection of runways from incursion by vehicles or pedestrians.
- the safe operation of airports during extreme weather conditions.
The TCICAA liaises closely with industry groups, such as the Airport Authority, central and local government departments, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the Ministry of Health which is responsible for issues concerning the health and safety of workers on the ground.The TCICAA is also responsible for the economic regulation of airports to ensure that air travel remains competitively priced for passengers.
Runway Safety
Analysis of Turks and Caicos Islands and world wide data has identified runway incursions and runway excursions as significant safety risks to TCI aviation.Both runway incursions and runway excursions have many causal or contributing factors and reducing the risk involves a concerted effort from the aviation industry. Flight crew, Air Traffic Controllers and aerodrome operations personnel can all play a part in helping to reduce the human factor elements that contribute to an accident.The TCICAA Safety Plan summarizes the approach we and our industry partners are collectively taking to address both these important safety issues. The plan focuses on a proactive approach to safety and is outcome focused with greater emphasis on measurable improvements to safety performance.