Managua, July 29, 2020.
DG/INAC/0341/07-2020.
Commercial Airlines
Registered in Nicaragua
Addressing concerns expressed in the various events related to the process of resumption of commercial air operations, in times of pandemic and with the application of measures to mitigate the risks of infection by air throughout the chain, including air transport service for passengers, cargo, airline crew and ground personnel, airport personnel and the authorities that interact in the service.
Given that there is no vaccine, the application of measures to strengthen prevention and isolate aviation is considered at the points of infection of Covid-19, both for the personnel who are exposed and the population are users or workers of the air transportation sector.
In this sense, since the start of the pandemic, measures and requirements were gradually applied to maintain this security, accordingly operations were suspended and the airlines that chose to continue operating were able to adapt their operations to the requirements that the State of Nicaragua established until they suspended their operations, with cargo operations remaining, and eventually some charter flights.
We must remember that on June 8, 2020, ICAO made recommendations to States to adopt measures for COVID-19 with the Takeoff Document, guidance for air transport during the health crisis caused by COVID-19, plus other orientation documents to make air transportation safe and gain the trust of the user, avoiding being a means of propagation.
Aligned with the recommendations of ICAO and the National Standards issued by our public health authorities (MINSA) and all those that make possible the operation of international aviation in our country, Resolutions No. 358-2020 (MINSA) and No. 017-2020 (INAC) were issued.
These Resolutions comply with the process of implementation of the 5 Stages to restart and recover aviation.
Being stage 0 the current one, which requires a series of conditions for its implementation. These requirements are similar to those applied during the suspension process that took place months ago; those that serve to strengthen and create a robust defense in the prevention system against COVID-19, which are added and applied with greater rigor.
This stage is kept under constant evaluation by the health authorities, to mitigate the effects of the pandemic through aviation.
The way in which relief measures or reduction of requirements are applied, will be in the way that the stages and the evaluation that our public health authorities determine and will be developed, according to the evolution of the pandemic.
Once the pandemic is over, they will review the procedures or protocols to bring operations back to normal.
Therefore, it is necessary for the aero-commercial sector to support States in complying with the established requirements and to be clear that air operations in the current context are not normal.
The orientation to the users of the service is vital to comply with the sanitary measures that the States demand.
It is necessary for airlines to be the main guarantors of this disclosure, to promote the use of the service they offer safely.
We urge you to comply with the requirements of the Nicaraguan State and make the best efforts for optimal coordination with local authorities, in order to facilitate compliance with aforementioned.
Sincerely,
-Signature and seal-
Cap. Carlos Salazar Sánchez
Managing Director
Nicaraguan Institute of Civil Aeronautics
DG/INAC/0341/29-07-2020.