‘CNMI runways are safe’

Although not as sophisticated as those in the U.S. mainland, CNMI airport runways are safe and compliant with federal standards, according to federal and local authorities.

Federal Aviation Administration runway safety teams inspected the airports on Tinian, Rota, and Saipan this week, and found them to be safe, said Commonwealth Ports Authority acting executive director Regino Celis.

“The runways are safe. FAA just finished their annual inspection. We are in compliance with the FAA requirements,” said Celis.

Visiting FAA inspector Mack Humprey said the annual certification of airports is required under FAA’s Part 139 regulation.

“It’s the reason why we come here. They must do certain requirements [to ensure compliance]. Airports have to be certified,” he said.

In terms of runway safety, he said that CNMI airports are “pretty good.”

Tinian is OK without ILS

Humprey said that an instrument landing system or ILS is “a good thing” but not a requirement for the Tinian International Airport.

“It’s not a requirement. It’s a good thing to have to assist [planes] in landing at the airport,” said Humprey in an interview.

The Tinian leadership—consisting of the mayor and lawmakers—earlier criticized the CPA for not installing an ILS on Tinian promptly.

The delegation attributes the lack of direct flights to Tinian to the absence of an ILS.

It cited that China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have declined to fly directly to Tinian for lack of an ILS.

Marketing problem

CPA board member Serafin Dela Cruz, who represents Tinian, said that what the island lacks is marketing, not an ILS. He cited that the airport has been open to international flights since two years ago.

“It’s already open and, when FAA opens an airport, it means it’s safe. The problem there is not so much about the lack of ILS but marketing,” said Dela Cruz.

He said the Chinese airlines’ refusal to go to Tinian is an “airline” concern, not an FAA-related concern.

“I believe the airlines won’t allow their pilots to fly in without an ILS because they’re not trained to land without ILS,” said Dela Cruz.

CPA officials said Tinian is not eligible for FAA-installed ILS due to the lack of traffic. They said FAA freely installs an ILS if an airport receives heavy traffic.

This explains why FAA and CPA could not shoulder the installation of an ILS on Tinian, and why the local delegation has to find money if it wants to have it.

However, an ILS purchased by the delegation has to be approved by FAA.

The delegation has initiated efforts to acquire an ILS.