CPA to ask FAA to take over air control tower at Saipan airport

Citing an anticipated budget deficit, Commonwealth Ports Authority board chair Kimberlyn King-Hinds said the Federal Aviation Administration should take over the air control tower at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

At CPA board’s airport facilities committee meeting last week, King-Hinds said FAA taking over control of the tower itself relieves CPA the burden of basically maintaining and operating the facility at a cost of $200,000 a year.

CPA now estimates that the total revenue loss increased to $6.4 million from the original projected loss of $3.9 million due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The CPA board of directors unanimously approved last week to implement a 64-hour work schedule for all employees effective March 29.

King-Hinds in an interview said CPA currently owns and operates the air control tower.

“We are one of the very few in the country who still own and operate and maintain the tower,” she said.

King-Hinds said the tower is one of the concerns that they’re going to put in the letter that’s being drafted for U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

She said the letter contains a long list of items of concerns.

“Some of it is a long shot, but I’m not going to not try. I’m going to try,” the chairwoman said.

King-Hinds said that, over the past two weeks since they have been monitoring what’s been happening in the region and looking at their revenues, they are having issues with meeting with certain obligations.

She noted that half of CPA’s operational revenues come from aviation.

“And when you zero out anticipated flights, you’re basically cutting out half, of, you know, your ability to be able to provide basic essential services,” she said.

The chairwoman said one of the concerns is when there is a stop of international traffic, it also has an impact on the non-aviation side such as those people who are leasing the restaurants and other offices.

She said they’re coming and asking for a discount because they’re not getting any customers.

“When you have no foot traffic at the airport, you’re not making any money and so they’re also, you know, asking for relief. It’s a whole domino effect in the entire system,” she said.

King-Hinds said they’re looking for ways to ask for some assistance, whether it be through federal relief through the Department of Interior, or if are there options that they have under the FAA, where they can get some supplemental assistance for funding for operations.

“I have no shame. You know, my duty is to CPA and to ensuring that the airport stays open, remains open to the traveling public,” she said.

King-Hinds said the letter is being drafted to discuss CPA’s operational challenges and to send that to Washington, D.C. so that they know exactly what it is that’s going on here in the CNMI given the fact that they’re already on the ongoing national discussions as it relates to the economic impact of the corona virus has not just in the Marianas, but globally.