SANTO DOMINGO.- The Director General of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Igor Rodríguez Durán, declared that, following the recent signing of the Open Skies agreement with the United States of America and having passed the audit of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which confirms Category 1 status, the Dominican Republic reaffirms itself as one of the most important destinations for international tourism.
“We are a perfect location to serve as a hub at all levels, not only for aviation but also for maritime transport. This, combined with a sound national strategy, helps us to develop civil aviation in the best possible way,” the official stated.
Rodríguez added that these advantages are further enhanced by the crucial role of technology, which, when properly implemented in civil aviation, guarantees operational safety and saves lives. Furthermore, it contributes to ensuring that, in addition to the human element and training required to pilot an aircraft, it guarantees compliance with internationally demanded quality standards in the aeronautical system.
Besides making the best use of technologies, the Director General of IDAC is committed, through his management, to promoting better infrastructure conditions at the country's international airports, to guarantee greater operational safety.
As the country is a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with direct participation in the decision-making processes that define regulations and standards worldwide, the official reaffirmed his commitment to working to ensure that the nation continues to be a benchmark for compliance with aviation standards in the region.
“The Dominican Republic is undoubtedly very well positioned. We are committed to taking civil aviation to the next level, where we are now, and we are rising to the occasion, given the current state of aviation worldwide. Because of our geographic location, with our closest and most important trading partner being the United States of America, our participation and influence within international organizations is highly significant,” he emphasized.
The official expressed hope that in the coming years, given the Open Skies agreements with the United States, plus the confirmation of Category 1 status, the country and its locally registered aircraft will have greater access to that market. This, combined with the number of airports the country has and the flow of visitors, “places us in a significant position within the region.”.
Rodríguez Durán, a computer systems engineer specializing in software engineering with master's degrees in Business Administration and Logistics, is also a pilot. Therefore, his connection to the aeronautical field is closely linked to his work, ensuring successful management at the helm of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation.
The Director General of IDAC participated in the seminar on Transportation, Logistics and Free Zones, organized by Mercado Media Network, with the presentation "Civil Aviation in the Era of Open Skies," an event in which Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, Director General of Customs; Biviana Riveiro, Executive Director of ProDominicana, and Luis José Bonilla, President of Adozona, also spoke.
Also giving presentations were Bela Szabo Padilla, executive president of ZFLA; Jean Luis Rodríguez, executive director of Apordom; Milton Morrison, director of Intrant; Francisco Domínguez, CEO of Dr Trade; Franquiz Caraballo, CEO of DPH; Víctor Montiel, CEO of Rannik; Karen Popa, senior manager of World Economic Zones, and Raymundo Pérez, general manager of Grupo.
