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Tinian’s proposed ILS not approved by FAA
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Posted on Apr 15 2006
The instrument landing system that the Tinian local government has proposed for its airport was essentially rejected by the Federal Aviation Administration, said Commonwealth Ports Authority consultant Carlos H. Salas.
Salas said the ILS that is being sold to Tinian by its contact company “is not the system that FAA currently supports.”
“Tinian airport has to get the equipment that FAA supports. [CPA] is going to pursue the one that FAA is supporting because when it’s done, FAA will be maintaining it,” said Salas in an interview last week.
Tinian mayor Jose San Nicolas, during a recent meeting with CPA, had disclosed that his office has contacted a U.S.-based company that can provide Tinian a much cheaper ILS.
He said Tinian could get the equipment at about $1.3 million, which is far lesser than the CPA/FAA’s estimated amount of $3.5 million.
Former Tinian mayor Ike Quichocho, who now works as a consultant for San Nicolas, earlier said that the company sells “FAA-compliant instrument landing systems.”
Salas has said the prices for this equipment vary, depending on the types of ILS.
Tinian local leaders have expressed their displeasure over CPA’s seeming inaction on Tinian’s ILS, saying that the lack of such an equipment is why the Tinian International Airport could not get direct flights.
CPA and FAA officials said over the weekend that Tinian’s traffic does not justify the installation of an ILS by the FAA. This means that the local government has to find money if it wants to acquire the ILS.
“The big issue is the funding. …I hope the Tinian delegation is able to produce that amount [estimated at $3.5 million],” said Salas.
