US CINPAC backs Tinian airport expansion

Rear Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, has informed Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan that he was supporting the proposal of the CNMI to expand the use of US leased lands for the improvement of West Tinian Airport.

In a letter to Sablan, the U.S. navy chief said he was willing to begin talks in July after his brief visit in the US mainland. Unfortunately, he could not grant the request of Sablan to start the talks in mid-June because he had to attend to some Navy business during that period.

Once an agreement is drafted, Greenert said he will submit it for review by appropriate Department of Defense authorities. He said the U.S. Navy will be directed to execute the agreement on behalf of the United States once the document is reviewed.

The CNMI government is seeking an amendment to the Leaseback Agreement on West Tinian Airport so that the Commonwealth Ports Authority could use some 600 acres for the construction of an airport runway, while some 900 acres will be set aside for mitigation and conservation area.

CPA is set to undertake the lengthening of the runway from 6,000 ft. to 8,500 ft. to accommodate bigger aircraft with the opening of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

The Tinian Legislative Delegation earlier issued a resolution seeking an amendment to the FAA approved plan because local leaders believed that by extending existing runway, the airport would be able to immediately accommodate larger aircraft for passengers directly to and from various destinations.

Since the Tinian Delegation’s proposal is not included in the original master plan for Tinian airport, the ports authority will be required to make an expensive environmental impact study which could take a year.

Considering all these constraints, FAA advised the ports authority to stick to the original plan and reduce the runway to 7,600 ft. to cut down on the cost which would only accommodate a B727.

FAA had earlier approved a $3.8 million fund to implement the first phase of the expansion of the 8,600 ft. runway and taxiway. Due to the urgency of improving the existing runway, the Tinian Delegation had approved the transfer of some $3.8 million from the Covenant 702 Capital Improvement Project funds originally allotted for the Tinian Civic Center.

The Tinian Delegation had emphasized that development of Tinian Dynasty and Casino hinges on the capability of the existing West Tinian airport to accommodate bigger aircraft to bring in the needed number of visitors through direct flights to the island.