Presidential Decree Encourages GA Travel

Following up on their initial presentation to visitors at Lakeland earlier this year, a delegation of high-level aviation officials from the Dominican Republic came to AirVenture to encourage pilots to visit their Caribbean nation.

Led by Jose Tomas Perez, Secretary of State and Director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), the Dominican contingent aimed to promote the virtues of general aviation tourism. With their nation already a favorite Caribbean tourist destination, the Dominicans are now intent on becoming the top tourist stop for private aircraft.

The government has teamed up with Caribbean Flying Adventures to make the Dominican Republic the newest and most exciting destination for US-based private pilots. 

"With a tourism-oriented economy, we simply could not continue to forfeit this lucrative segment to our Caribbean neighbors," said Jose Tomas Perez. "The President has demonstrated his determination to move the Dominican Republic to the top position in General Aviation tourism."

Perez was referring to a March 2008 decree signed by President Dr. Leonel Fernandez. Presidential decree 169-08 eliminates government user fees for personal aircraft up to 30,000 pounds maximum landing weight, and 12 passenger capacity. The decree also directs government agencies and employees to facilitate the convenient and pleasant movement of general aviation aircraft and their occupants.

Andres Van Der Horst, Director of the Dominican Department of Airports and a principal agent in the drafting of the executive order, joined forces with the Director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation to implement and enforce the decree.

"This segment of tourism cannot be developed under the shadow of user fees", said Mr. Van Der Horst. "It is in our national interest to move to a fee-free policy." The recent participation of the Dominican Ministry of Tourism brings additional resources and momentum to the campaign, and provides a rare opportunity for tri-agency collaboration.

With concerns about excessive and inconsistent user fees and handling charges, leisure traffic to the Dominican Republic over the last few decades had become non-existent. Experienced and competent representatives working jointly with Caribbean Flying Adventures on the national level were deployed by the Directors to quickly align Customs, Immigration, and other agencies behind the decree.

"We are placing resources and mechanisms in position to ensure the ongoing enforcement and integrity of the President's decree," said Mike Trim, an airline pilot and technical advisor who serves as the delegation's coordinator.

Next to be tackled is the natural resistance of the independent private enterprise concessionaires managing the country's international airports. The six non-international airports were immediately fee-free with the signing of the executive order, and in fully embracing the decree, so too was Felix Garcia and the centrally-located Cibao International Airport in Santiago, the first of the eight privately-managed international airports to eliminate their landing, parking and handling charges. Frank Rainieri and the Punta Cana International Airport followed Santiago's lead with their elimination of user fees for all aircraft under 6,500 pounds.

Caribbean Flying Adventures is planning the first of many guided fly-ins for October 9-14.

FMI: www.caribbeanflyingadventures.com