Proposed Bahamas Jet Center and Flight Academy

Introduction:

This conceptual project was originally proposed by a United States based flight training academy for a North Eleuthera island site. An alternative location was also considered for a site on Grand Bahama Islands east end.

The primary focus was in the creation of a flight training academy that would attract students from around the world that wanted basic and advanced training to become both certified private and commercial pilots in single engine, multiple engine fixed wing and helicopters. This training was to be designed to help students maintain or exceed a level of competence for the ICAO level 4 examination which means their students quality in international co-operation and uniformity in regulations and standards, procedures, and organization regarding civil aviation matters.

During the period that cadets are preparing to earn their pilot certifications, the center would provide housing and lifestyle amenities that would keep these students physically and mentally fit.  This location would also allow these student pilots to be focused on the task without the distractions that are inherent in larger training sites in the United States and elsewhere. Generally excellent flying weather is also a factor in locating this training center in the Bahamas.

Depending on the level of development of the island location selected, it would also be desirable to support commercial jet passenger and air shipping facilities within the project scope.

UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS:

* Relatively inexpensive land compared to larger countries such as the United States.

* Excellent and predictable weather compared to almost anywhere in North and South America, Europe, Asia and most other global locations.

* Reduced level of air traffic that provides a less distracting condition during formative training periods.

* Reduction in the level of social distractions usually evident in larger community environments that aids in a cadets concentration

* In house activities including gymnasium, swimming pool, team sport practice facilities,  video occasions, social gatherings, etc. to facilitate student bonding.

* Pleasant housing within the training center facilty, reducing excessive travel times and other distraction.

INFRASTUCTURE/UTILITIES HARDSCAPE:

* Community Wi-Fi signals will be broadcast throughout

the academy environs for the use of every student, resident & guest.

* Public parks with playground equipment,

covered benches & tables, outdoor BBQ facilities, etc.

* No building with a roof height more than 36 feet above an

approved surface grade will be allowed anywhere in academy site.

• All surface storm water drainage will be directed into cistern systems for reuse as landscape irrigation.

LANDSCAPE/GARDENS:

* All streets and avenues are to be lined with

palms, canopy and flowering trees with

trunks set at a distance representing the trees mature

canopy spread except when interrupted by a street

entrance.

• Grassed areas cannot exceed 20% of any landscaped area.

* A minimum of 40% of all plantings used must be native

or xeriscape varieties.

* Low volume or drip irrigation is to be used wherever

practical.

* Developers & residences to be required to allocate 10%

of the building costs as a landscape budget for their projects.

* Low maintenance gardens will be a high priority.