Haiti Airspace Improvement Project Finally Complete

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airbus ProSky announced completion of a joint project to modernize the airspace efficiency of flight paths and operations between Haiti's Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien International Airports. Conducted in collaboration with Haiti's Office National de L'Aviation Civile (OFNAC), the modernization project implements a new airspace design that incorporates Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) systems and procedures, accordion to IATA.

The project was launched following the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, damaging the country's aviation infrastructure. Air France, American Airlines and JetBlue also participated in the airspace redesign project, which will improve safety, efficiency and flight times as well as reduce CO2 emissions.    "The collaboration among all parties was relying on constant operational exchanges between airline pilots and OFNAC controllers — resulting in designs that will increase efficiency and enhance safety within the Haitian airspace. All of the stakeholders should be applauded for their ability to work together in a manner which will benefit each of them," said Rafael Alonso-Nivez, regional director of Latin America and Caribbean at Airbus ProSky.