The Airworthiness Unit is responsible for maintaining continuous regulation and supervision of the airworthiness activities of air operators and maintenance facilities. Effective safety oversight ensures high standards and international obligations are maintained.

This section is responsible for ensuring that all aircraft on the Barbados Register of Civil Aircraft are maintained to the standards established under the Barbados Civil Aviation Regulations and ICAO Annex 6, Operation of Aircraft.

It is staffed by two Airworthiness Inspectors both of whom are licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.  Their main functions are to:

1) Ensure that aircraft inspection programmes are assessed and approved and then satisfactorily accomplished by qualified and competent personnel.

2) Inspect Barbados registered aircraft, and the documentation relating to the maintenance performed on those aircraft, on an annual, as well as on an on-going basis. 

3) Carry out scheduled and unscheduled inspections on local operators for compliance with the requirements.

4) Conduct accident/incident investigations.

5) Assess the competence of applicants for AME Licenses by means of written examinations or by administering oral examinations when required.

6) Assess the technical competence of operators who apply for licenses or permits to operate into and out of Barbados.

7) Carry out routine ramp inspections and surveillance on foreign registered aircraft operating in Barbados.

8) Inspect local and foreign maintenance facilities utilised by Barbadian operators.

9) Assess and approve maintenance training programmes.

What is Aviation Personnel Licensing

The need to have proper authorization to carry out certain functions in the aviation industry has always been a requirement. This authorization is normally issued in the form of a “Licence”. The granting of a licence is the legal instrument used by a Licensing Authority to confer to an individual or organization the legal responsible to perform specific activities that are otherwise prohibited either by Law or by custom; and which, unless performed properly, may endanger life and property. 

A licence is evidence that the issuing State is satisfied that the individual or organization has demonstrated an internationally acceptable degree of competency after successfully completing an approved standard of training. The process of licensing consist of the granting of privileges to the applicant who meets the prescribe standard. 

Depending on the type of licence issued, the licence may or may not have a time limitation imposed and may or may not have limitations with respect to function performed.  The licence may have certain conditions to be observed prior to the exercising of certain function or privileges. Such conditions if they exist, can be termed “the obligations of the licence holder”. Such obligations are detailed in the State’s/ country’s Laws and Regulations.

The validity of a Licence is the length of time that a licence holder can legally exercise the privileges of his/ her licence and this time limit is usually prescribed by the issuing State/ country.

• Approved Aviation Courses conducted in Barbados

 There are two types of aviation approved courses for the granting of licences conducted in Barbados:

1) The Approved Air-Traffic Controllers Course which is conducted at the Air-Traffic Control School at Charnocks Christ Church; and

2) The Private Pilot’s flight Course facilitated by the Barbados Light Aeroplane Club.

All other flight crew and engineering licensing will be granted based on the approval of a foreign course. 

• The approval of foreign courses and aviation training facilities:

All aviation training courses conducted for the licensing of aviation personnel must be accepted and approved by the state or country issuing the aviation licence. For example: the United States of America, Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in its Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) documents, sets out training standards that must be met by all approved aviation training courses as well as  all approved aviation training facilities facilitating this training. 

• Acceptance of a foreign licences:

The approval of an applicant with a foreign licence and/or rating will be conducted by the Barbados DCA PEL office in two phases:

Phase 1 will see an assessment of the applicant’s foreign licence application on the bases of the training standards provided by the foreign country’s Licensing Authority. Please note that the training standards of the foreign Licensing Authority must meet or exceed the local aviation training standards for the applicant’s licence application to be successful. 

Phase 2 will seek to have the applicant successfully complete the Barbados Air Law examination as well as an aviation medical examination conducted by a Barbados Approved Aviation Medical Examiner.

• Essential functions of the Barbados Civil Aviation PEL Office

The essential functions of the Barbados Civil Aviation PEL Office are as follows:

a) The assessment and approval of applications for licences and ratings;

b) The application of medical fitness assessment relating to licence requirements;

c) The issue of licences and ratings; 

d) The validation of foreign licences; 

e) The setting and marking of written examinations; and

f) The promulgation of a scale of Licensing fees for the procurement of a licence, ratings and certificates.

g) The drafting and amendment of rules relating to the training and licensing of aviation personnel;

h) The approval of organizations and persons for specific task related to training and testing. For example: The Designated Flight Test Examiners and the  Approved Flight Instructor; 

i) The assessment of the qualifications of foreign civilian and  military trained personnel in order to determine examination and flight test exemptions; and 

j) The enforcement of licensing Laws and regulations.

The Aerodrome/Air Traffic Services Safety Inspectorate is responsible for inspecting and certifying airports.  Based on the local 

regulations, it evaluates requirements for maintenance, lighting, markings, emergency response plans and aircraft fire fighting 

services at the aerodrome. It also assesses the readiness of the search and rescue services to meet the needs of

civil aviation.

This section is also responsible for the initial certification and continuing surveillance of the Air Traffic Services Provider for the provision and maintenance of:

       . Air traffic services; 

       . Aeronautical information services; 

       . Aeronautical communication services;

       . Aeronautical aids for communication, navigation or surveillance.

Duties of the Aerodrome/Air Traffic Services Inspector include:

       (i) Ensuring that the airport and heliport in Barbados are appropriately certified;

       (ii) Ensuring that the airport and heliport are operated in compliance with national and international laws, as well as in 

            accordance with International Standards and Procedures;

       (iii) Carrying out audits and verification exercises at the airport and heliport;

       (iv) Verifying that essential aerodrome data in presented in the Aerodrome Manual;  

       (v) Carrying out functions relating to the certification of aerodromes including receiving and processing of expressions of 

             interests and applications for aerodrome certificates and processing requests for amendment, transfer or surrender of 

             certificates;

       (vi) Assessing and making recommendations on aerodrome operations manuals;

       (vii) Ensuring that the Aerodrome status is published in the AIP;

       (viii) Coordinating with AIS in the review of any notification for promulgation by that office, received from an aerodrome 

               operator;

       (ix) Auditing Air Traffic Services’ practices and procedures;

       (x) Assessing the operation and performance of the air traffic system and air navigation system and equipment to ensure 

             compliance with International Civil Aviation Standards and Recommended Practices;

       (xi) Carrying out inspections of the movement area at aerodromes to ensure compliance;

       (xii) Assessing the ATS Quality Assurance programme to ensure safety;  

       (xiii) Ensuring that an adequate number of appropriately trained staff is available to provide ATS.

The Aviation Security Inspectorate is responsible for ensuring compliance with and implementation of the security regulations by the Aviation Industry players such as Air Operators, Airport Operators, Catering Operators, Cargo Operators and Security Companies. Since September 11, 2001 (9/11) aviation security has taken a dramatic turn as this new paradigm in hijacking of aircraft has forced many changes in Aviation Security. The Aviation security inspectorate is responsible for:

(i) Developing, implementing and maintaining national aviation security programmes.

(ii)Ensuring the development and maintenance of airport aviation programmes.

(iii) Ensuring compliance with the provisions of the national civil aviation security programme and national security legislation.

(iv) Inspecting airport aviation arrangements and programmes and monitoring their effectiveness.

(v)  Providing advice and guidance, as required, on aviation security matters.

(vi) Constantly analyzing the level of threat to civil aviation and initiating such action as to effectively counter the perceived threat.

 (vii) Fostering and promoting good working relationships/cooperation and the exchange of information and expertise among States.

(viii) Conducting Surveys, inspections, audits or investigations of aviation organizations.

(ix) Advising airport authorities, building designers and architects in respect of the incorporation of security considerations when planning and designing new or remodelling existing airport facilities.