SANTO DOMINGO.-The National Facilitation Committee (CNF), an entity attached to the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) of the Dominican Republic, held its fourth meeting of the year with the purpose of ensuring a smooth travel experience during the peak season at the end of this year.
During the start of the meeting, led by the president of the JAC and the National Facilitation Committee, Héctor Porcella communicated the importance of establishing procedures and measures that facilitate the navigation of aircraft, crews, passengers, cargo and mail for the 2024 winter season.
“Facilitation plays a key role in the efficient management of national air transport, and it is from this perspective that the sector authorities and the institutions involved must guarantee the quality of services to air transport users,” Porcella explained.
He explained that this resource is the continuous improvement of control and service processes at all airports in the country, and that it requires a high degree of cooperation between the different sectors (airline operators, service providers, airport authorities and inspection agencies), each of which has the responsibility to contribute to these improvements.
During the meeting, they evaluated the actions implemented to optimize processes and addressed measures aimed at simplifying procedures for air transport, with a view to speeding up air navigation and avoiding unnecessary delays for aircraft and passengers landing or taking off in the Dominican Republic.
Similarly, the draft establishing the Air Transport Facilitation Regulation was reviewed; a document whose preparation was based on the standards and methods of Annex 9 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, relating to facilitation.
The commission that worked on the draft was made up of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation, the Specialized Corps in Airport and Civil Aviation Security, the Airport Department, the General Directorate of Customs, the General Directorate of Migration, the General Directorate of Passports, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Directorate of Drug Control and the Civil Aviation Board, as coordinator.
The committee held 8 meetings, in which the observations made regarding the document by the representatives of each institution were reviewed, discussed and approved.
The proposed regulations also included provisions relating to the formation and operation of both the CNF and the Airport Facilitation Committees.
During the meeting, the deputy director of the Specialized Airport and Civil Aviation Security Corps (CESAC), Colonel Dionisio de la Rosa, FARD, announced the plans to be implemented during the winter season due to the expected flow of passengers entering the country by air.
Similarly, Rear Admiral Juan Gilberto Núñez explained the measures implemented by the General Directorate of Migration regarding the flow of tourists this season. He also discussed the efforts being made by that agency through training and professional development programs for immigration control agents.
Likewise, Héctor Christopher, Director of Air Transport at the JAC, presented the flight plans relating to charter flights, special permits and passenger movement during the months of November and December 2024.
Finally, Manuel Abbott, in charge of the Facilitation Division of the Civil Aviation Board, presented a report on the Dominican Republic's participation in the Global Facilitation Forum, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a forum in which the country reaffirmed the importance of Air Transport Facilitation, with compliance with airport processes.
Facilitating air transport in the country is part of an integrated system comprised of the president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), who chairs the system; the members of the JAC plenary; the Director General of Migration; the Director General of Passports; the Director General of Customs; the National Director of Drug Control; the Dominican Republic's Association of Airlines; and the Association of Airports. Additionally, the Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture, and Environment participate in an advisory capacity.
