TourismToday

Bahamas takes spotlight with Partners US and Canada Government Officials in International Federal Pavilion

Once again this year, The Islands Of The Bahamas partnering with border officials from the United States and Canada, are enjoying high visibility and exposure in the International Federal Pavilion (IFP), during the weeklong EAA AirVenture Aviation Show, Oshkosh, WI, July 24th-31st.

AirVenture is the largest aviation show in the world attracting top government officials, corporate leaders and hundreds of thousands of general aviation enthusiasts. It embraces the entire spectrum of aviation interests and this year is expecting some 20,000 aircraft on its fields, well beyond the usual 500,000 aviation enthusiasts that attend the show annually. The aviation event includes daily air shows, Aerobatics and pyrotechnics fly-In theater. forums, workshops, and demonstrations. This year’s opening day concert featured rock music legends REO Speedwagon.

U.S. Federal Agencies including the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and Air National Guard, Field Operations and Air and Marines, Customs and Border Protection Agency, FAA, and NOAA, along with Canadian Government departments began participating together in 1990 at the EAA AirVenture and later came to be known as the International Federal Partnership. The Islands of The Bahamas with its Civil Aviation, and Customs departments joined the group in 2002. Of great significance is the fact that at the end of this year’s show, The Bahamas’ own, Greg Rolle, of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, will take over as chairman of this prestigious group.
Over the years the partnership has proven to be mutually rewarding for the countries. The Bahamas partnership with the U.S. provides pilots flying to The Bahamas a degree of comfort because of the information they receive on ADIZ crossing – The military has a factual flyer on ADIZ in the current Bahamas Pilots Guide. Pilots flying to The Bahamas also benefit from the countries’ partnership in regards to NOAA’s weather forecasting and the FAA which assists with educating pilots flying to The Bahamas on filing flight plans. The US Customs and Border Protection along with The Bahamas are currently working together to ensure that all pilots flying to The Bahamas are educated on eAPIS flight planning and securing the annual sticker.
Each year the IFP’s massive 21, 000 square foot hanger at AirVenture- The International Federal Pavilion – , houses government officials for the three partner countries including The Bahamas and, as in the past, the IFP is proving to be among the busiest areas at EAA with a sizeable percentage of show attendees visiting its aircraft displays and booths. The building is in the educational and informational section of the show, near the Conoco/Philips Plaza where all of the big show planes are located. Also a few yards away is the airfield where air shows take place throughout the day, and closer still is the display of the war birds.
At the 2010 EAA show The Islands Of The Bahamas announced the opening of its air space to light sports aircraft (LSA) and therefore this year a LSA is being featured in The Bahamas’ booth. Bahamas LSA Flying Ambassador, Mike Zidziunas is on hand at the booth sharing his flying experiences to The Bahamas, and the ease, economic advantage and excitement. Hubert Adderley, Bahamas Department of Civil Aviation and , Anthony Dean representing Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers, are also present at the booth, providing procedural Information for flying to the Bahamas Islands and Senior Bahamas Customs Officer, Raphael Whymss, is educating on arrival procedures

The Bahamas is also being represented at the show with a booth in one of the exhibiting hangers. Bahamas hotel and aviation partners assisting at the show include, Bahamas Preferred Gateway FBO’s Banyan Air Service and Sheltair Aviation. Grand Bahama Tourist Board is in attendance representing their member hotels and Out Island hotels represented, include Fernandez Bay, Cat Island; Stella Maris, Long Island; Small Hope Bay, Abaco and Cape Eleuthera.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Aviation Department attends major shows such as EAA annually as a part of its marketing thrust against the general aviation market. Other signature programs include Bahamas Preferred (FBO) Gateways, Bahamas Flying Ambassadors, and Bahamas Day. The inventive strategies being undertaken by the country’s aviation department, has thrust The Islands of The Bahamas into the spotlight of the International aviation arena.