St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)
Leader of Government and Commissioner responsible for Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, extends congratulations to all those working directly and indirectly in the aviation field with respect to the annual celebration of International Civil Aviation Day, December 7 which marks the creation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on that day in 1944.
The theme for this year is, “Global Air Transport – a driver of sustainable economic, social and cultural development.”
The purpose of the annual celebration is to establish and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States. The role of ICAO in promoting safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport is emphasized in this context.
In 2006, 2.1 billion passengers traveled on scheduled flights alone. Still to be added are charter and other aircraft operations. Nearly 40 million tones of freight were carried by air, from fresh produce to computer equipment for the home and office.
Today, some 32 million jobs are linked to civil aviation. Employment in airlines, airports, air navigation services and aerospace industries (5.5 million jobs), plus indirect and induced multiplier effects, account for about 15 million jobs. Some 17 million additional jobs are supported in a wide range of industries related to trade and tourism such as hotels, restaurants and many more.
Civil aviation’s extended global economic impact is estimated in the order of US$3.5 trillion, equivalent to nearly eight per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP ).
“I would like to congratulate all those working directly and indirectly in the civil aviation field on this special day, for all your hard work and dedication to the aviation field.
“This includes pilots, airline stewards, control tower staff, airport fire fighters, airlines, other service providers, airport security, taxi driver’s, airport management and staff and all those not mentioned, for a job well done.
“Our island nation is dependent on civil aviation as our land-based tourism sector is dependent on the travelers who fly in to the island on a daily basis. We therefore must be able to continue to provide the best of services and infrastructure that we can provide as a nation,” Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service ( GIS) on Thursday.