FAA: No funds yet for Rota airport runway

Improvement of the Rota International Airport runway may take longer due to the unavailability of federal funds that will facilitate major infrastructure projects in CNMI air transport facilities, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

In a letter addressed to Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona, FAA Airports District Office Acting Manager Daniel S. Matsumoto said there is not enough funds available under the Airport Improvement Program to finance the island’s request for runway surface treatment.

“There is not enough AIP funds available to carry out all projects in the CNMI. However, we will hold the application until funding becomes available,” Mr. Matsumoto said.

He was responding to a letter by Mr. Manglona asking immediate FAA assistance for the improvement and rehabilitation of the island’s international airport runway and facilities.

“The island of Rota is now ready to embark into a major tourist destination. However, the impediment of our success is because of the port and desperate condition of our airport runway and facilities,” Mr. Manglona said.

The mayor emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

He added a jet service to and from the island would only become possible if and when airport runway and terminal facilities are rehabilitated and improved, thereby, securing the safety of incoming and outgoing passengers.

Mr. Manglona underscored that continuous delay in improvement of the Rota International Airport would be counterproductive in the local government’s serious efforts to advance the island’s economic potentials.

Ports Authority executive director Carlos H. Salas earlier disclosed that works are underway for the re-sealing design sealing Rota’s airport runway.

CPA has plans to extend the Rota airport runway to be able to accommodate bigger aircraft direct from Asian countries, although this has to take a back seat in favor of Tinian due to the absence of solid plans to bring in direct international flights.

Expansion of the West Tinian International Airport will have to come earlier because of the existence of the casino gaming industry in the island which warrants international flights direct from Asian countries.

From this stand point, the priority was arranged in that Tinian gets the air transport facility in place as soon as possible.

Also, an undertaking like improvement of the Rota air transport facilities is not likely to happen overnight since CPA would have to do an environmental assessment in order to avoid altering historical sites or animal habitat.

CPA earlier bared plans to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Municipality of Rota on a project involving the improvement of the air transport facility in the island.

Under the draft MOA, the ports authority would initially undertake the architectural and engineering design for the Rota airport and the municipality agrees to reimburse CPA for the cost of the A&E design using funds from the capital infrastructure projects earmarked for the island.

The reimbursement agreement covers the A&E work for the Rota International Airport runway non-skid sealant project, according to the draft MOA. The project cost is estimated not to exceed $68,000.

The agreement binds the Rota municipality to reimburse CPA within 30 days after the CIP fund is enacted and disbursed. Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona agrees to make prompt requests to the finance and the public works departments to expedite reimbursement.