Lack of flight activity imperils Tinian, Rota ILS

Bad news for Rota and Tinian.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it would not install instrument landing systems on the two islands unless it becomes cost-beneficial for the agency to do so.

This, in a nutshell, was the explanation offered by FAA Western-Pacific regional administrator William C. Withycombe when asked why Tinian and Rota—unlike Saipan and Guam—have no ILS, which helps pilots land aircraft during rough weather and nighttime conditions when runway visibility is poor.

“It’s all about how it’s going to be funded and what benefits come from that particular operation. That’s the key to it. If there’s a large demand that develops for the airport use, the FAA would fund that installation and put that system in place,” said the FAA official during a break in yesterday’s 2008 Pacific Aviation Directors Workshop at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

Withycombe said the ILS requests for both islands have been studied but until Tinian and Rota meet the cost benefit ratio that the FAA has take into account in order for airports to qualify, it cannot fund ILS installations on the two islands.

“Unless the operations increase to the numbers that qualifies them, the FAA cannot fund it.”

He said that outside of qualifying under the cost-benefit ratio criteria, the CNMI government could still have an ILS on Tinian and Rota if it is willing to fork out the money for its installation.

“We would, of course, give guidance and be a partner in installing the equipment if the Commonwealth could come up with the money to be able to afford the system. ILS runs a couple of millions of dollars at least—a substantial amount of money. The [Rota] airport itself has a brand new runway only a few years old.

“Obviously, an instrument landing system will bring benefits to the operation of the airports. It will also bring benefits to the Commonwealth. It’s going to take money and a reimbursable type of agreement with FAA to do [maintenance],” said Withycombe.

ILS is a ground-based system with antennas that are installed on concrete pads near the end of the runway. Pilots use them for bad weather approaches or nighttime approaches to the end of the runway so a pilot sees a signal in the cockpit that provides guidance to them in all-weather and all-night time conditions.

Withycombe said that ILS has been used for years and years in the aviation industry. Outside of Guam and Saipan, all other airports—international or local—in Micronesia have no ILS.

The two islands immediately to the south of Saipan have long pined for an ILS in their airports. Tinian, especially, since the island believes the system is the only ingredient missing for its casino industry to really take off. Aside from Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, two other companies are constructing casino operations on the island.