Restrictions are being put in place for road and marine traffic, as well as for the use of drones, in the run-up to and during this weekend’s Cayman Islands Air Show.
There will be traffic diversions and restrictions on boating activity in place on Friday and Saturday, 2 and 3 Dec.
On the roads
An aerial display will be taking place along Seven Mile Beach from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, 3 Dec.
Police are advising there will be no public access to the Seven Mile Public Beach parking lot between Friday, 2 Dec. at 8am and Saturday, 3 Dec. at 6pm due to the Air Show Vendor Village.
Parking will be available at the KAABOO site. There will also be parking at Camana Bay, with a shuttle service to the beach provided.
The RCIPS said there will be traffic management in place for the northbound lanes of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, between the Seven Mile Public Beach roundabout and the Yacht Club roundabout, on Saturday from 6am to 2pm.
During these times, anyone intending to park at the KAABOO site must use the left lane, while drivers travelling towards West Bay or Yacht Drive must use the right lane.
Motorists travelling southbound will not be able to turn right around the Yacht Club roundabout or at the Seven Mile Beach roundabout, and those travelling north will not be able to turn left at the Yacht Club roundabout onto West Bay Road.
There will also be a diversion in place for northbound traffic on West Bay Road in the vicinity of Lime Tree Bay Avenue. Traffic travelling towards West Bay will be diverted onto Lime Tree Bay Avenue and continue via the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. However, people travelling to the parking area at the KAABOO site will be permitted to continue northbound past Lime Tree Bay Avenue.
Later on Saturday, an aircraft exhibit will be held at the Island Air Hangar at the Owen Roberts International Airport, across from the Cayman Airways office.
As a result, Owen Roberts Drive will be closed to westbound traffic coming from Breezy Way, from noon on Saturday. Both lanes will be closed between Dorcy Drive and Breezy Way from 2pm to 6pm.
People travelling to the airport during these times will be required to do so via Red Gate Road. They can also access the airport or the aircraft exhibit via the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, by travelling southbound and taking the airport connector road, east of the Cayman International School roundabout, which will be temporarily opened during these times.
A shuttle bus service from Camana Bay will also be available for the aircraft exhibition.
Temporary maritime restricted zone
The Cayman Islands Coast Guard is advising that a temporary maritime restricted zone will be in place to ensure marine safety during the air show.
On Friday and Saturday, between 9am and 2:30pm, no boating activity will be permitted between Heritage Club and the beach just north of the governor’s residence at Government House on West Bay Road.
“The area of restricted access is from the waterline extending outward to where the water changes to darker blue,” a notice from the Coast Guard stated.
For boaters with GPS devices, the following coordinates can be entered into those devices to ensure compliance:
- North: Between 19° 21’30″N & 81° 23’18″W and 19° 21’21″N & 81° 23′ 44″W
- South: Between 19° 20’32″N & 81° 22’55″W and 19° 20’24″N & 81° 23’25″W
This temporary maritime restricted zone has been established in accordance with powers granted to the commandant of the Coast Guard and with the approval of Governor Martyn Roper, organisers said.
Drone restrictions
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands says there will also be temporary restrictions on drones during the air shows on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Director-General Richard Smith of the Civil Aviation Authority has restricted the airspace surrounding the event in accordance with the provisions of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013.
The flight of all aircraft, including drones, will be prohibited within three nautical miles of the air show, offshore at Seven Mile Public Beach, from the ground to 8,000 feet above mean sea level. This restriction will be in place from 7am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, 2 and 3 Dec.
On Cayman Brac, from 11am to 2pm on Sunday, 4 Dec., a similar restriction will be in place at the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport.
The restriction applies to both approved commercial drone operators and recreational enthusiasts, unless specifically approved for this event by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Organisers said drone-detection systems will be deployed to protect the air show airspace and the Civil Aviation Authority is collaborating with the RCIPS to ensure that the restricted airspace is appropriately policed.
Additional information, including on restrictions on boating and drone usage during the air show, can be found at: https://www.caymanairshow.com/en-us/things-to-know.
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