WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is preparing to request a new assessment by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2027, hoping to regain Category 1 aviation safety status after more than a decade under the lower Category 2 classification.
MFK Member of Parliament David Seferina revealed the government's intention during a Central Committee meeting of the Curaçao Parliament on Tuesday, October 20, where legislators examined the proposed new Aviation Ordinance.
According to Seferina, the Pisas administration has been working to address shortcomings identified during previous international aviation safety assessments. These efforts include modernizing aviation legislation, strengthening the financial position of the Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority (CBA), improving its institutional independence, and expanding the number of qualified aviation inspectors and other personnel.
Curaçao has held FAA Category 2 status since 2012. Under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, this classification indicates that the country's civil aviation oversight system does not fully comply with international safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The classification does not mean that individual aircraft or airlines operating in Curaçao are necessarily unsafe. Instead, it reflects deficiencies in the government's ability to regulate and supervise the aviation sector according to international requirements.
The consequences are particularly significant for Curaçao-based airlines seeking to expand their operations to the United States.
Under Category 2, affected airlines face restrictions on establishing or expanding services to American destinations. Regaining Category 1 status would remove these particular regulatory limitations, although airlines would still need to satisfy other applicable operational and commercial requirements.
Seferina indicated that improvements have been implemented in several areas, including recruitment, professional training, and the modernization of the aviation authority's regulatory framework.
However, he also asked the government to clarify how far the recovery program has progressed and which requirements remain outstanding.
He said he understood that the government intends to invite the FAA to conduct another evaluation in 2027.
The announcement prompted questions from other parliamentarians about whether Curaçao will actually be ready for reassessment.
MAN-PIN parliamentary leader Giselle Mc William requested a detailed overview of the deficiencies identified in previous FAA and ICAO inspections, including which problems have been resolved and which still require attention.
She also questioned whether the proposed legislation would provide sufficient guarantees of independence for the aviation authority.
Although the new law is intended to strengthen the CBA's autonomy, its employees would remain administratively connected to the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP).
Mc William wants to know how the government intends to prevent political interference in technical aviation safety decisions.
PAR parliamentarian Shaheen Elhage raised similar concerns about the practical implementation of the legislation. He emphasized that passing a new law would not automatically improve aviation safety oversight without sufficient qualified personnel, equipment, financial resources, and effective coordination among responsible institutions.
The proposed Aviation Ordinance is intended to replace outdated legislation and modernize the supervision of airlines, airports, maintenance companies, and other aviation-related businesses.
The government considers the legislation an important component of its efforts to bring Curaçao's regulatory framework into compliance with international standards.
However, a return to Category 1 cannot be guaranteed simply by adopting the new law. The FAA must independently determine whether Curaçao's aviation oversight system meets the applicable international requirements.
Parliamentarians have requested written explanations from the government before continuing their examination of the proposed legislation.
For Curaçao's aviation industry, a successful reassessment in 2027 could mark an important turning point, potentially allowing locally based airlines greater opportunities to expand their American operations and strengthen the island's position in regional aviation.