Airport improvements to buoy NMI economy

Major airport improvements are anticipated to drum up business activities in the Northern Marianas after the Federal Aviation Administration sealed its approval for a $10.7 million grant to the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

The newest FAA grant will be tapped to finance new and ongoing airport improvement projects on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas disclosed the $10.7 million financial assistance will cover almost 90 percent of each airport improvements projects currently being undertaken by CPA.

“The FAA has been generous this year, and I want to make sure that we make the most of this opportunity we have in improving our facilities,” the executive director said.

FAA officials notified the ports authority that the 2001 Airport Improvement Projects proposed by the CPA was given a go signal. Mr. Salas added the approval will expedite the implementation of improvement projects in all three airports.

Mr. Salas said the long-awaited regional aircraft rescue and firefighting training facility, the procurement of ARFF vehicle, the replacement of perimeter fence, and the rehabilitation of the existing runway — all at the Saipan International Airport — will materialize this year.

The assistance will likewise defray portion of the cost of the runway rehabilitation project and the installation of state-of-the-art runway lighting system at the Rota International Airport.

Mr. Salas added that the funds will also be utilized to update the master airport plans on Rota and Tinian.

CPA officials earlier disclosed that airport facilities will benefit from federal grants to be set aside by the aviation administration following the recently held Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Management conference.

Ports officials disclosed that the conference yielded positive result especially that aviation officials were given on-hand information on what improvement projects should be implemented this year to make Pacific Region airport facilities at par with international standard.

This especially in terms of security measures, improved facilities and well-managed rescue team and modernized equipment.

CPA is already poised at making Northern Marianas airports at par with facilities from other countries, by crafting a long-term improvement plan for the Saipan International Airport that includes the expansion of its runway safety zone.

CPA’s efforts in drawing up plans aimed at improving the islands’ transit facilities have been prompted by problems relating to transportation which have long been identified to be major a major factor in the apparently stagnating economic activity in the CNMI.

The agency is also looking at expanding the runway of the Saipan International Airport from 8,600 feet to 10,600 feet since its current capacity restricts the facility from accommodating direct flights from the mainland U.S., a government report said.

At present, the airport can only receive flights from the closer Asian cities. The facility hosts an air carrier apron that has parking position for six aircraft. With these, it can accommodate expected growth in the tourism industry in the near future even without expansion. (EGA)