Khan: Category One delayed

WHILE STRESSING that Trinidad and Tobago remains on course to regain the Category One status it lost under the former government, Works and Transport Minister Franklyn Khan disclosed that this goal may be delayed up to early 2005 because BWIA and Tobago Express missed the September deadline for Category One compliance. Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, the Minister said: “The latest report I got was that they were supposed to comply by September 24. They have not met that deadline and have asked for a two month extension which the director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has the authority (to grant).

In a sense,  their inability to comply on time has pushed back the reclassification of our civil aviation function by a couple months. I think you are looking at early 2005.” Khan said problems involving the re-paving of Piarco’s runway are not hindering TT’s ability to regain Category One status. “It has absolutely no bearing on Category One. Category One is a legislative issue in terms of regulations and oversight responsibilities and all of that is in place. We are working closely with the CAA, Federal Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation in that regard,” the Minister declared. He said problems with the runway’s re-paving have not caused any delays or grounded any aircraft at Piarco.