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CPA readies transfer of tower operations to private firm
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Posted on Sep 28 1999
It’s all systems go for the Serco Management Services Inc. to take over the operations of the Saipan Air Traffic Control Tower on Oct. 1, 1999.
Six employees of the Commonwealth Ports Authority assigned at the Air Traffic Control Tower will transfer to Serco. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the rate for the controllers will be $18.26 per hour.
Salas said other benefits include medical and dental plan, long-term disability, standard and optional life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Serco is a private contractor appointed by FAA to run the Control Tower in the Western Pacific Region, including Hawaii and Guam. It has also taken over the operation of some airports in California.
Saipan has been chosen by FAA to be covered by the Federal Control Tower Program which would save the ports authority some $600,000 a year. Salas and Board Member Roman T. Tudela met with FAA officials in Los Angeles in July where they discussed plans to tap a private company to run Saipan tower.
Several years ago, the ports authority applied with FAA to finance the construction and operate the facility as well. Unfortunately, Salas said CPA was not eligible to receive FAA funds for technical reasons. In 1994, the U.S. Congress appropriated the necessary funds and the CNMI was awarded with federal grants for the construction of the tower.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has earlier met with Willie Card, FAA nationwide manager for the Control Tower from Washington D.C., and Steve Bernstein, overall manager of Serco to explain the program.
Local control tower operators were trained and certified in the Western Pacific region in early February 1995, when Saipan tower was commissioned. FAA has given the local controllers high marks for their performance.
The ports authority has asked for FAA assistance in acquiring equipment and navigational aids for Rota and Tinian airports to be covered by the contract tower program.
