CPA’s Norita, Torres off to LA

Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Clyde Norita has left for California for a meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration on Tinian airport instrument landing system and Saipan aircraft fire and rescue center expansion.

Norita said Friday that he would depart for Los Angeles on Saturday and be back on island later this week.

He is accompanied in the trip by Stanley Torres Jr., who heads the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting facility on Saipan.

Norita said he will be meeting with FAA Western Pacific Regional Administrator Bill Withycombe.

“We will be discussing a number of subjects including the Tinian ILS. We will be finalizing the reimbursement agreement for the project. We’ll also be discussing about the planned expansion of the ARFF facility on Saipan,” said Norita.

He said the trip is funded by the federal agency.

The ARFF discussion would cover issues such as the development of a shooting range and having more classrooms to effectively serve as a regional law enforcement center.

The ARFF serves as the training center for other Micronesian islands.

CPA earlier met with FAA officials in Guam last month to draft the reimbursement agreement which outlines the support services that are required of the FAA on the Tinian instrument landing project.

CPA earlier said that as soon as the agreement is signed, an engineering firm will commence the design work and implement the construction phase.

The reimbursement agreement specifies how the CPA would settle obligations with FAA on the latter’s role in the ILS project.

The ILS system for Tinian airport is a non-FAA funded project so a special arrangement with the FAA under a reimbursable agreement “is crucial to making sure the entire system is functional and meets all FAA standards,” CPA said.

The Tinian local government earlier reprogrammed $3.5 million of Capital Improvement Project funds to purchase and install the ILS.

Tinian leaders have said that the lack of ILS is the reason why the Tinian International Airport could not get direct flights.

They cited that China Southern Airlines from Guangzho and China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai would land directly to Tinian once the ILS is set up.

CPA and FAA officials said that the Tinian airport is safe to accommodate landings with or without ILS.