FAA exec: CPA now in the right direction

After seeing all the work being done at the Saipan International Airport, a visiting Federal Aviation Administration official says the current management and board of directors of the Commonwealth Ports Authority are now moving in the right direction.

Mark McClardy, FAA manager for airport division for the Western Pacific, said that FAA is very pleased to see the improvements and “progress” shown by CPA, particularly in complying with requirements and standards.

McClardy inspected the airport Thursday and joined the board in its meeting.

Last year, CPA was placed on a state of emergency due to the “inaction” of the board on matters relating to the seaport and airport bond indenture agreements.

The Executive Branch appointed a new board, headed by Joe Lifoifoi, with the main task of addressing the bond indenture problems.

“Going back to where CPA was in September last year…there were a lot of unanswered questions from the board. But now, FAA is very pleased with the direction shown by the new board in terms of compliance,” McClardy told Saipan Tribune Thursday.

The agency, he added, not merely showed progress in dealing with the bond indenture problem but also a positive change in its operation and financial status.

McClardy said the FAA ranked the generator project as the main issue that concerned them the most in the past.

“That’s FAA main concern and they have addressed that. We commend the board’s and management’s effort in prioritizing the generator at the international airport because it’s for everyone’s safety,” he said.

It will be recalled that hundreds of tourists and passengers were stranded on several occasions at the airport because their flights were delayed due to rampant power outages on island. CPA then has been operating without any generator to back up operations during outages. Its two main backup generators were both down and needed to be repaired.

McClardy said that operating an airport without a backup generator is a clear violation of FAA rules and standards.

CPA was able to complete the repair of its two main generators with the help of FAA. The federal agency had also provided a grant for the purchase of a new generator for the Saipan airport.

McClardy assured the board Thursday that FAA will continue to assist and support CPA in ensuring the safety of CNMI airports.

The official also formally notified the ports management of its removal from “high-risk status” to “moderate.”

“I am pretty sure it will soon be removed when CPA goes back to business as usual,” McClardy said.

He said FAA is waiting for the completion of the agency’s cost allocation plan—a requirement that will totally remove the risk status of CPA. “We’re very confident that CPA can address it,” the FAA official said.

CPA executive director Efrain F. Camacho on Thursday reported to the board that major airport projects are moving on schedule and progressing.

At the Saipan International Airport, the new baggage handling system is being tested and several meetings were held for its upcoming certification by the Transportation Security Aviation.

The project, the completion of which had been delayed for many years, is needed to expedite processing at the airport check-in counters as baggage would pass through the equipment. CPA recently spent close to $1 million to replace/repair a spare part of the system.

Camacho said the generator project is also still on schedule as completion is set for late this year for phase 1 and early 2010 for phase 2.

“A design contract for the generator building renovation is being finalized now. Also, preventive maintenance and operation agreement will be implemented,” the executive director said.

The airport temporary runway, he added, is set for operation early next year.

CPA is also working on installing a new public address system for the airport, also funded by the FAA.