Flamingo Airport Bonaire Gets New Aerodrome Control Tower
Inauguration to Take Place September 15
On Friday, September 15, Bonaire will inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Aerodrome Control Tower at Flamingo International Airport. The tower’s inauguration will cap off the completion of phase 2a of the 15 year Master Plan for the expansion of the airport.
Mr. Michael Nicolaas, CEO of Bonaire International Airport (BIA) NV noted, “With the inauguration of the new Aerodrome Control Tower, Bonaire is demonstrating its commitment to ensuring safety, efficiency and the orderly in the handling of air traffic making use of the airport.” He continued,“Our vision at BIA is to become the Gateway to the Economy of Bonaire, and this tower is a significant milestone on our journey. ”
The tower is owned by Bonaire International Airport NV, and will be known as Flamingo Tower. The Air Traffic Service will be provided by The Dutch Caribbean Air Navigation Service Provider (DC-ANSP), the Air Navigation Service Provider responsible for the Air Traffic Services (ATS) within the Curaçao Flight Information Region (FIR). As such, DC-ANSP operates three air traffic control facilities: the Area Control Centre and the Aerodrome Control Tower in Curaçao and the Aerodrome Control Tower in Bonaire.
The tower will be operational from 07:00 – 23:00hrs Local time (11:00 – 03:00 UTC / Greenwich Mean Time) and is fully compliant with the International Safety Standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). An initial staff of seven people will be employed to handle the current traffic at the airport, with DC-ANSP able to respond to any increase in air traffic demand that would require additional staff.
The new location of the Control Tower has an improved line of sight, providing the air traffic controllers a better view of the entire maneuvering area of the aerodrome used for the take-off, landing and taxing of aircraft. The state-of-the-art quality technical equipment and communication system facilitates the communication between the Control Tower and the air traffic (Pilots) and ensures a safe guidance and management of air traffic operations.
Mr. Nicolaas concluded,
“I would be remiss if I did not recognize the full support of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment responsible for the aviation safety on the BES Islands who made the building of the new Flamingo Tower possible.”
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) applies very strict rules and requirements which the fire department must observe. It was a realistic training exercise with fire and smoke in an airplane during evening hours. These exercises took place on the grounds of BIA where a training object has been constructed from containers and other materials to imitate the fuselage of an airplane. There are two different mock-up cabins on the inside; one of a smaller airplane with one aisle and one of a larger airplane with two aisles. In case of an airplane fire it is important for the fire department to turn out and reach the fire within three minutes and to create a survivable situation as soon as possible in order to save as many human lives as possible.
Four shift leaders and three officers of service from Bonaire, and 1 shift leader and 2 firemen from St. Eustatius participated in this physically demanding training exercise. A total of 10 participants and 3 fire engines were deployed. The training exercise was organized by BKCN instructor Ab Hoek and Sergeant Major Frank Koenders, airplane firefighting instructor of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, in collaboration with the firefighting training institute BOGO. The airplane firefighting training exercise for instructors lasted 9 days, of which one day was devoted to theory and the remaining days were practical days.
