Miami, Florida.— The Captains Council and Dominican Pilots Abroad (DPA) are pursuing a series of presentations to presidential hopefuls in the Dominican Republic to bring civil aviation’s main challenges—and proposals to address them—onto the national political agenda. According to the organizations’ joint press release, the nonpartisan initiative seeks to encourage technical discussions on aviation safety, institutional capacity, and the development of the aviation sector.
The first presentation took place on September 19, 2026, in Miami with former President of the Dominican Republic and presidential hopeful Dr. Leonel Fernández. The meeting marked the start of a dialogue that the organizations plan to continue with other presidential hopefuls and their technical teams. The Captains Council, which describes itself as a think tank, and Dominican Pilots Abroad seek to contribute aviation professionals’ expertise to public policymaking. Their objective is to encourage specific commitments addressing the sector’s needs in prospective government platforms.
The presentations will cover stronger safety oversight, modernization of the institutional and regulatory framework, airport infrastructure, and air traffic services. They will also address the training and retention of technical personnel, along with the independence and capabilities of accident and incident investigations. The organizations also emphasize the importance of involving aviation professionals from the Dominican diaspora in the design and implementation of projects to improve Dominican civil aviation. They view these professionals’ experience across different aviation systems, specialized knowledge, and familiarity with international practices as valuable resources for strengthening the sector.
To facilitate that involvement, the organizations will promote advisory support, training, technical collaboration, and knowledge transfer. The aim is to enable sustained contributions from Dominican professionals abroad in coordination with professionals and institutions in the country. Their joint position connects aviation development with tourism, trade, and connectivity. From that perspective, both organizations argue that the sector requires a long-term national vision that extends beyond election cycles and ensures continuity in technical projects.
The presentations will be open to all presidential hopefuls. The organizations stress that the meetings do not represent an endorsement of any presidential hopeful or political party. Instead, they are intended to provide an opportunity to share assessments, exchange perspectives, and promote solutions grounded in evidence and international standards. The Captains Council and Dominican Pilots Abroad express their willingness to work with public authorities, industry, and the aviation community to help build a safer, more efficient Dominican aviation system that is better prepared to meet the country’s needs.
