Introduction

Aviation is an essential pillar of the social, economic, and safety infrastructure of the countries within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. For Caribbean Netherlands, aviation is the primary connection to European Netherlands and the surrounding region; for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, the sector also plays an important hub role with airports, air traffic control, maintenance, and regional operations.

At the same time, aviation in the region is under pressure due to scale, staffing vulnerabilities, and the risk of knowledge loss. That is precisely why investing in training, knowledge retention, and future prospects is crucial.

Our Approach

Within the focus area of sustainable aviation, Future Islands focuses on education, knowledge development, and collaboration throughout the aviation value chain.

Not from the idea of quick technological fixes, but from the understanding that safety, continuity, and sustainability begin with people, competencies, and organizational strength.

Our efforts concentrate on three interconnected lines:

• Education and training pathways
  Strengthening and connecting education in aviation technology, aviation safety, and related competencies so that young people on the islands have prospects for sustainable careers in the sector.
• Knowledge retention and continuity
  Supporting knowledge sharing and development within organizations, focusing on safety culture, human factors, and international standards.
• Collaboration between the Caribbean and the Netherlands
  Connecting educational institutions, aviation authorities, and industry partners in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and European Netherlands.

Ongoing Activities

On behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Future Islands is conducting an exploratory process to strengthen education and knowledge development within the Caribbean aviation sector.

As part of this effort, work visits and discussions have been held with aviation, education, and labor market stakeholders in Curaçao and Bonaire. These discussions show a widely shared need for structural training pathways, better alignment between education and practice, and more attention to knowledge retention within organizations.

Youth and Future Prospects

The aviation sector offers internationally recognized professional profiles and clear competency frameworks. For young people in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, the sector can therefore provide concrete and sustainable career prospects — provided that education, accreditation, and the labor market are better aligned.

Future Islands sees aviation not only as a transport sector but also as a lever for knowledge development, employment, and future prospects within the region.

Role of Future Islands

Future Islands acts as the connecting link. We bring parties together, structure learning and development questions, and support a phased approach toward sustainable retention of aviation knowledge in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.