Airport grants at $13M so far

The Federal Aviation Administration has provided CNMI airports approximately $13 million in grants from Fiscal Year 2008 up to the present.

Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Efrain F. Camacho cited four major projects covered by the funds: the generator upgrade and the runway rehabilitation at the Saipan airport, the construction of a parallel taxiway on Tinian, and the runway shoulder on Rota.

On top of these approved funding, Camacho said the FAA may also provide an additional $5 million under the stimulus package of President Barack Obama. The amount, he said, would be used to augment the funds for the rehabilitation of the Saipan runway.

CPA recently completed the repair of its two main backup generators at the airport and is in the process of procuring a third generator—all funded by the federal agency.

CPA will soon begin work on the runway rehabilitation once the conversion of the taxiway is completed at the Saipan International Airport.

Camacho described this project as one of the most critical, to be able to proceed with the main runway rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation work, he said, is expected to begin in early 2010 and will be done within 250 calendar days.

During this time, he said the temporary runway will be used for majority of aircraft traffic. However, no flights will be cancelled as the main runway will be available for aircrafts needing a longer runway.

Camacho had just returned back from a Majuro trip where he represented the CNMI.

Funded by the FAA, he was asked to do a presentation on the status of the ongoing projects at each airport in the Commonwealth.

Camacho said similar concerns were raised by participants in operating their respective airports, from funding to staffing concerns.

“The workshop was helpful in knowing that all other airports in the area have similar problems. …Operating an airport is very expensive and the volume is not always there to support operation. Yet, unlike the U.S. mainland or other big places with alternative ways to move people and goods…island nations have very limited means of moving people and goods. Usually it’s the airport,” Camacho said.

He said FAA plays a very critical role not only in keeping all airports safe but in providing much needed funds.

In fact, he said, in many instances certain things would not be possible for NMI airports without FAA’s help.

Just recently, Camacho said, FAA approved funding for the procurement of aircraft fire fighting rescue trucks for the CNMI, Palau, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

FAA, he added, will also be providing funds for the ARFF Training Center on Saipan to expand the facility and include training for maintenance of ARFF equipment.

“This is new and one that is badly needed in our area. Saipan will be playing a very important role as our area grows,” Camacho said, citing the expected positive impact of the military buildup in Guam on the CNMI.