THE growth of the Trinidad and Tobago’s aviation industry must be within the framework of a robust national civil aviation policy. Such a policy will inform how the local and international aviation regulatory and operations infrastructure can impact the growth strategies for the local civil aviation industry.
The primary objective of an aviation policy is to serve as a catalyst for the development of the aviation sector in order to have a positive influence on long-term economic growth through air connectivity. This will provide better access to markets, support the tourism industry, enhance communications and business interactions, facilitate trade and investment and improve business efficiency through time savings, reduced costs and improved reliability for business travellers and air freight operations.
The policy framework must be sufficiently stable to underpin long-term planning and investment in aviation activities and should guide development of accessible, affordable, cost effective and sustainable aviation infrastructure to support the growth of the aviation industry.
Aviation benefits the Trinidad and Tobago’s economy through its direct contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment, and by facilitating trade and investment, manufacturing supply chains, skills development and tourism.
The aviation industry can drive economic growth through strategic partnerships, digital transformation, sustainable practices, automation and efficient operational management. This will streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and leverage technology for revenue optimisation.
Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation commonly known as the Chicago Convention. The convention established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Therefore, any aviation policy must be congruent with the five strategic objectives of the ICAO: aviation safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency, security and facilitation, economic development and environmental protection.
Aviation safety is the core of the ICAO's work, focusing on enhancing global civil aviation safety through policy and standardisation, monitoring safety trends, implementing safety programmes and providing technical support. Through international cooperation by governments and industry groups, ICAO has helped to make commercial aircraft the safest way to travel. ICAO member states are currently working toward their agreed global safety target of zero fatalities by 2030.
Trinidad and Tobago has to strengthen its regulatory capacities, while pursuing a range of programmes and targets relevant to aviation safety planning, oversight, and risk mitigation.
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Air navigation capacity and efficiency focuses on improving the efficiency and capacity of air navigation systems, including air traffic control, navigation aids, and infrastructure, to facilitate safe and timely air travel. The next 20 years will be a pe
