WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE – The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) has announced that renewing aviation safety regulations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is now a top priority. This commitment was outlined by Minister Barry Madlener in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, in response to the recently released report The State of Aviation 2025 by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).
The minister emphasized that strengthening aviation safety in Caribbean Netherlands is a central goal of the Dutch Aviation Safety Programme. “Proper aviation regulation is essential to ensure a basic level of safety,” Madlener wrote. “Oversight is impossible without clear rules. That is why updating the BES regulatory framework is one of the seven key safety initiatives in the Dutch Aviation Safety Action Plan.”
Incident Reporting and Oversight
One major improvement under way is the introduction of mandatory incident reporting, a system already in place in European Netherlands and many other countries. Reporting, registering, and analyzing aviation incidents help detect trends and assess whether risks are acceptable. This information also helps aviation professionals and companies learn from operational challenges.
Currently, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations do not apply in the Caribbean Netherlands, meaning the ministry must create a tailored legal framework. In the meantime, ILT has arranged for airports and air navigation providers in the region to report incidents via email to the Aviation Incident Analysis Bureau (ABL).
Kingdom-Wide Collaboration
The Dutch aviation authority is also working closely with Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten to improve safety throughout the Kingdom. A cooperation protocol based on the Kingdom Charter has been established, allowing for joint efforts in the areas of safety, accessibility, security, environment, and sustainable air transport development. All parties respect each other's autonomous aviation responsibilities, while jointly complying with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
In 2024, the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aruba and St. Maarten to carry out SAFA (Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft) inspections. Dutch authorities also conduct oversight of aviation medical examiners on behalf of all three Caribbean countries and collaborate on training for handling dangerous goods and air navigation oversight.
Noise Control Measures
As of November 1, 2023, ILT also began monitoring aviation noise levels around the airports of the Caribbean Netherlands. A maximum noise limit of 56 dB(A) Lden has been established for all airport zones. Airports are required to submit quarterly noise reports to ILT, allowing inspectors to verify compliance. According to the 2024 assessments, all airports in the Caribbean Netherlands remained within legal noise limits.
The methodology for calculating noise exposure is set out in the BES Aviation Noise Regulation, and data must be correctly entered into the national airport registry.
