The Tribune

THE Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) has dismissed any suggestion that it will be charging for services already provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as “manifestly false and demonstrably so”.

BACSWN President and CEO Patrick Rollins said: “The issue is not nor has it ever been one of duplicating existing FAA services. Rather, it is one of addressing longstanding safety concerns due to the lack of real time aviation weather information that has been formally identified as an aviation safety hazard.”

Mr Rollins urged the president and CEO of US lobby group Airlines for America (A4A), Chris Sununu, who last week raised concerns over fees, to carefully review the FAA’s Tactical Operations Committee report, “Recommendations to Improve Operations in the Caribbean.”

He pointed out that the report specifically cites deficiencies in the provision of real-time weather information for users of Bahamian airspace, which is part of the Miami Oceanic area.

Mr Rollins added: “The report identifies the risks posed by such glaring deficiencies and highlights other issues for US airports, like Miami and Ft Lauderdale, both of which are not able to operate at their full capacity due to the constraints posed by our sovereign airspace.

Referring to the report, Mr Rollins shared that it actually states in clear plain language: ‘the lack of weather radar presentation, within airspace overlying the Caribbean area of Miami ARTCC (ZMA), creates a safety hazard.’”

Voicing concerns over the overflight fees collected by the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA), Mr Sununu went on to claim that BACSWN was going to be providing “a weather service that was not needed or asked for by the aviation community.”

Terming the assertion without merit, Mr Rollins said that Mr Sununu’s remarks were completely at odds with the Articles of the Chicago Convention and the FAA’s own report. He said: “These findings directly contradict any suggestion that the advanced aviation meteorological services BACSWN intends to provide are unnecessary.

“Furthermore, for Mr. Sununu to suggest these services are not needed - or indeed required under the articles of the Chicago convention - is not only factually incorrect but an insult to the sovereignty of our archeielagic nation.

“Like every other nation, The Bahamas has mandatory obligations to provide for the safe and efficient passage of each and every flight over the 173,000 miles of our strategically located airspace.

BACSWN in May 2025 signed a Heads of Agreement with the Government of The Bahamas, which it explicitly states that BACSWN was appointed as the official meteorological service provider for aviation, with exclusive responsibility for the setting up, establishing, funding, staffing and levying of fees to bring The Bahamas and the Caribbean’s first next-generation meteorological aviation weather centre to fruition.

The company has publicly stated that once completed, the facility will have the technical and operational expertise necessary to provide real-time flight location information and search and rescue coordination, and to maintain a 24/7/365 watch for weather or in-flight obstacles that may affect the safety of any flight or craft using Bahamian sovereign territory.

Yesterday, the Bahamas Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation released a statement on air navigation charges collected by BANSA and aeronautical meteorological services.

It said: “Through the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA), the Government of The Bahamas continues to hold productive technical meetings with industry partners. All parties share the goal of resolving any remaining differences over the overflight charging framework.”

It continued: “Although we cannot disclose details of the ongoing discussions, they are progressing well, with all sides engaging in good faith.

“As a State Party to the Chicago Convention, The Bahamas is expected to adhere to applicable provisions on charges, included in Article 15.”

The statement confirmed that the Government’s approach will be guided by ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services and its four key principles of non-discrimination, cost-relatedness, transparency and consultation with users.

It added: “It is further anticipated that any future arrangements or charges for the provision of aeronautical meteorological services will also be consistent with these principles.”

Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation JoBeth Coleby-Davis said: “The United States is our closest aviation partner, and our airline partners play an essential role in connecting our islands to the world and supporting the families and businesses that depend on air travel.

“We have listened to their concerns and remain committed to working through the outstanding issues constructively.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that any charging framework is fair, transparent, related to the cost of services provided and developed in consultation with users. We will continue these discussions in good faith, recognising our shared interest in safe, reliable air connectivity and the continued strength of our aviation relationship.”