Regional meet to tackle aviation safety

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will play host next month to the Pacific Aviation Directors’ Workshop at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, a convention expected to feature at least 18 aviation experts discussing airport safety.

The regional meet from Feb. 6 to 9 is anticipated to gather over 80 airports and airlines officials who will devote discussions based on the theme: “Building Partnerships for Aviation Safety.”

The four-day directors’ seminar will touch on aviation topics to include airport emergency plans, hazardous materials and its management, fire fighter stress testing, airport facility and equipment maintenance, runway incursions, emergency exercises, flight standards, and others.

An onsite visit to the island of Tinian will be conducted on the third day of the workshop where participants will be given the opportunity to witness developments to the West Tinian Airport runway expansion project, funded in part by the Federal Aviation Administration.

CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the workshop is aimed at discussing future improvements and continued maintenance of the air transport facilities in the several Pacific-island states that are under the administration of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Measures to improve the aviation sector’s revenue-generating capabilities will also be up for discussion, according to the CPA chief.

An integral part of the aviation forum will also be devoted to discussions on airport responsibilities in cases of aircraft disasters.

The seminar will also put emphasis on reports on the accomplishments of airport administrations throughout the US mainland and the American Pacific.

At the end of the workshop, the participants are expected to pick up vital pieces of data that would enable aviation entities to stay competitive.

CPA, for its part, is poised at making the Northern Marianas airports at par with facilities from other countries through a long-term improvement plan for the Saipan International Airport that includes the expansion of its runway safety zone.

The agency’s efforts in drawing up plans aimed at improving the islands’ transit facilities have been prompted by problems relating to transportation which have long been identified to be a major factor in the apparently stagnating local economic activities.