BARBADOS' AIRPORT IS 99.1 per cent ready, as its review for Category 1 status approaches.

This is according to director of Civil Aviation Anthony Archer.

The island is now in its final stages of qualifying for the rating by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), members of which will be coming to Barbados within another two months to do an audit.

"We had a lot of assistance from the FAA, the Regional Safety Oversight Operation, so we are ready. They will come and do their audit in late May, early June and give us their decision," he said.

Archer told the DAILY NATION that during the audit if any deficiencies were found, then an action plan must be presented as to how soon these deficiencies could be corrected and then they re-examine it.

"They may even grant you the Category 1, on the provision that you will put certain things in place by a certain time," he said.

The rating will enable Barbados to give permission to people to start up airlines here in Barbados and while applications are pending, it makes little sense to sign off on them now.

"They can't go to North America. So when we get the Category 1 then we would be able to deal with that. My department deals with the operational and certification but the other part of my ministry deals with the economic regulations, so they will decide whether or not they will get the permits to travel to the various destinations," said Archer.

He added there were two serious proposals [for permission to fly here] which they were actively looking at. While granting permission to fly regionally was not an issue, it was being able to go into international space that was more challenging. (WB)