The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority Celebrates 25 Years

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2021 34 JAMAICA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY 25TH ANNIVERSARY F T 22 T HE JCAA continues to achieve milestones which contribute to the advancement of the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ’s) policy objectives of increasing the efficiency and capacity of our air transport sector. These have enhanced the industry’s ability to more safely and effectively transport passengers, goods and services across various locations, locally, across the region, and internationally. Projects have been prioritised to enable : • Growth and development of Jamaica’s air transport industry; • A comprehensive modernisa- tion of Jamaica’s air navigation infrastructure; • The continued development of Jamaica’s technical infrastructure and human capital to ensure that we meet our obligations under the Chicago Convention and other in- ternational obligations; • The modernisation of the JCAA’s information & communications technology infrastructure; • Compliance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the Government of Jamaica’s govern- ance requirements for the manage- ment and administration of public bodies. I. MODERNISATION OF JAMAICA’S AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower com- missioned at both the Norman Manley and Sangster International airports. • Towers were constructed at a cost of CDN$22 million, or J$2.57 billion; • Infrastructure for a state-of-the- art TopSky Air Traffic Management (ATM) System installed. Other ATM upgrades include: o Radars installed, incorporating new L-Band Primary and Mode-S radar technology; o A voice communications & con- trol system; oThe nucleus of Jamaica’s air traf- fic control operations, Kingston Air Traffic Control Centre; o Installation of the fibre-optics interface and other equipment for interconnecting the new voice Communications and Control System and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Simulator Room. • Installation of a new instrument landing system at the Sangster International Airport at a cost of US$609, 000. Microwave Network • New microwave radio network implemented at a cost of approxi- mately US$700, 000. The network triples the information-carrying capacity of the previous network. It has also minimised the risk of critical data loss from radar and other sites. • Construction of a new Network Operations and Control Centre to enable remote monitoring and preventative maintenance of key communications, navigation, and surveillance equipment. II. AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT The JCAA’s multimillion-dollar aeronautical information manage- ment (AIM) project, which includes the installation of an AIMCentre and new, cutting-edge equipment was substantially completed during the 2019-2020 financial year. The trans- formation involved the implemen- tation of a new, satellite-enabled aeronautical information manage- ment platform to allow real-time data exchange and delivery of safe- ty-critical information services to the industry, including notices to airmen and preflight information bulletins. III. NORMAN MANLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UPGRADES In the past year, the JCAA successfully completed a pro- ject to upgrade and replace a key navigational aid serving the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), when it installed a new Doppler Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional Range at the NMIA. This navigational aid, which is critical for ensuring air- space and air transport operations’ safety within Jamaica’s airspace, provides accurate and precise safety and directional informa- tion to aircraft plying our airspace or landing at our airports. With the installation of the system at the NMIA completed, work is ad- vanced to ensure the installation of a similar system at the Sangster International Airport by the end of the 2021-2022 financial year. Both projects are being undertaken at a cost of J$273.3 million. IV. SAFETY OVERSIGHT The JCAA is implementing a critical project to further improve Jamaica’s safety performance and the efficiency of the entity’s regu- latory oversight, through the im- plementation of a cutting-edge Civil Aviation Regulatory Oversight – Software Platform. This project, which is being over the 2021-2025 period, will facilitate the develop- ment of a digital, centralised bank of critical safety data to facilitate trend analysis and targeted safety and risk interventions, thus further improving Jamaica’s aviation safety record. . OUR ACHIEVEMENTS The JCAA’s multimillion-dollar aeronautical information management (AIM) project, which includes the installation of an AIM Centre and new, cutting-edge equipment was substantially completed during the 2019-2020 financial year. The transformation involved the implementation of a new, satellite-enabled aeronautical information management platform to allow real-time data exchange and delivery of safety-critical information services to the industry, including notices to airmen and preflight information bulletins. JAMAICA #1 AIR TAXI SERVICE • TimAir was established in 1983 • Excellent Customer Service • Reliability second to none SEE THE BEST OF JAMAICA TimAir Limited services all major resort areas including • Kingston • Negril • Ocho Rios • Port Antonio • Montego Bay EASY BOOK ONLINE • Fastest way to make your reservation • Mobile Friendly CONTACT US Phone 876-952-2516 E-mail: timair@usa.net Website: www.timair.net Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. Congratulations to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority On their 25 th Anniversary. Looking ahead to a bright future for Jamaica’s aviation.