FAA downgrades safety rating for Barbados

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded the safety rating of Barbados after determining the country fails to comply with ICAO safety standards.

FAA has assigned a category 2 rating to Barbados, which means carriers from that country cannot serve the US. Currently no airline from Barbados offer US flights, and the category 2 rating prohibits those carriers from establishing new US service.

The civil aviation authority of Barbados is currently conducting certification on an air carrier with the goal of serving the US, says FAA. Barbados-based upstart REDjet, modelled after Ryanair, previously expressed an interest in serving the US, but on 11 April stated it would launch 8 May serving Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad.

The downgrade results in Barbados lacking laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, says FAA, or that its civil aviation authority is deficient in technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping or inspection procedures.

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19 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    July 3, 2011

    As a tourism based economy, Barbados should have this as a priorty.

  2. kii
    April 14, 2011

    why is it that american can go anywhere they please and we Caribbean cannot do the same .that is why they will remain the mark of the beast because is beast that go any where they please and claim ppls property and u cannot get rid of them

    • traveller
      April 14, 2011

      You do not understand what this is about. This is more serious than what you seem to take out of it. We need to be more serious in the region when it comes to safety issues. If such things are not down, governments will continue to take for granted their responsibilities. We need to be more proactive rather than reactive as a people. Stop blaming others for what we fail to do as a people.

  3. papiamento
    April 14, 2011

    well well,

    I read some of your comments,some of you are 75% right,the icao has 2 rules,they are standard, and recommended practices,the icao has over 18 annexes,which every airport uses annex 14 and 2 for all there practices,here in the caribbean we use standard,period,the americans want use to use recommended prac,,,,,,hold on hold on……………..well they want to demand us to use they way of practices not accoording to the icao but….F.A.A. and here’s come one more homeland security comes in play by checking your airport and security system so up-grade or de-grade your airport,lol and our gov let them do it too,wwell the whole caribbean in totaal,so who’s fauls it is??

    our dumies gov, we have in the caribbean,

    pls log on to http://www.I.C.A.O. .Org, and you’ll see it for your self bye now

  4. Nathaniel Peltier
    April 14, 2011

    Patience REDjet. Do what you must to get certification. I guess that you see what is happening. SO give it your best shot.

    Good luck.

  5. Antigua
    April 13, 2011

    Antigua is category 1 because of LIAT, thank you LIAT, also paving the way for night landing at Melville Hall to ensure that competition would be there in Dominica’s Airspace even at nights.

    Redjet has somegreat fares but the same baggage allowance as LIAT, bigger planes and limited baggage what the……. is that?

    LIAT will be launching it’s new fleet to over take that and when LIAT is done, put Redjet out of business and take the aircrafts andthe market.

    LIAT RULES THE AIR . AH WE ANTIGUANS RUN THINSIN THE AIR INDUSTRY.

  6. Bougla
    April 13, 2011

    Redjet pls do what it takes to comply. This is a lucrative route.

  7. M
    April 13, 2011

    And blackmore and skerit thinking that the half ass air strip will ever accomodate a decent airline even serving there other than the prop-jobs that fly there.

  8. Zenfan Morchoroh
    April 13, 2011

    The u.s. is just telling RedJet to keep the hell off U.S. airspace. Do you think they want competition from some cheap upstart caribbean based airline? Think again. They will kill the airline before it gets off the ground. Has RedJet contributed anything to the political campaign of either of the dominant U.s. political parties? Does RedJet have lobbyists in Washington? Mon cher its just another ploy by the FAA to kill them before the grow.

    • Peeping Man!
      April 13, 2011

      I agree…The US wants to be Judge, Jury and the killer of new airlines wanting new routes within their territory…

      • stupse
        April 13, 2011

        The US is judge, jury and killer of every darn thing. think of it.

  9. Jespen
    April 13, 2011

    People people people. This is a US blockage of Redjet, as it is viewed by US carriers as a big dive into their profits.

    • Anubis
      April 14, 2011

      @Jespen

      that is exactly the thought that came to mind. If Barbados fail to comply to ICAO and their airlines can not go to the US then how comes the US airlines can land in Barbados? can someone please clarify!!!

  10. clairvoyance
    April 13, 2011

    wow downward spiral indeed….all of a sudden barbados making headlines…all sorts of issues coming out… reminds me of when libya and these othere countries before they ended up in the state they are in right now!! hmmm

  11. WIKILEAKS
    April 13, 2011

    But wait a minute nuh, is it the same Barbados where Jet Blue, AA, Air Canada, Continental, BWIA, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic landed today???

    Am I missing something…so when they landed in Barbados, did they just stay in Barbados…

    Is this some UFO Story???

    Admin: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/12/355473/faa-downgrades-safety-rating-for-barbados.html

    • Anonymous
      April 13, 2011

      the story doesn’t indicate the US airlines cannot fly into Barbados, it states that Barbados registered carriers cannot service the US

    • airways
      April 13, 2011

      The FAA is saying Barbados, fails to comply with (ICAO) International Civil Aviation Organization., which mean the airline company are incompetent, telling them before you can enter international airspace you must comply with our laws; Barbados, will good luck on that Barbados…

    • Truth, Justice, Love, Peace and Unity
      April 15, 2011

      @ Wikileaks

      Want some information so you could “leak” it out, eh! :lol:

  12. Cas
    April 13, 2011

    Downward Spiral…….. Barbados be careful!

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