Rota, CPA sign MOU for airport repair
The Commonwealth Ports Authority and the Municipality of Rota have signed a Memorandum of Agreement in connection with the repair of Rota International Airport runway.
Based on the MOA, the Rota municipality will reimburse the ports authority of the cost of the A&E Design work amounting to $68,000 using Capital Improvement funds earmarked for the project.
Such reimbursement will be made to the ports authority within 30 days as soon as the First Senatorial District funding legislation for the project is enacted. The MOA was signed by CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas and Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona.
Since last year, the island municipality has been seeking the immediate repair of its airport because a study conducted by Winzler and Kelly showed that the runway becomes very slippery for bigger aircraft during wet conditions.
Due to cash shortage, the ports authority has asked the Federal Aviation Administration for funding for the upgrade of the Rota International Airport because for safety reasons.
Earlier estimates for the repair of Rota airport is about $1.5 million which involves sandblasting process.
Continental Micronesia Airlines has terminated its operations on the island because the airport is unsafe. the Pacific Island Aviation has also raised similar complaints.
The skid test resistance survey conducted by Winzler and Kelly confirmed the airline’s concerns that the friction values were below the FAA minimum standard.
