‘CPA unable to determine hidden damage at Saipan airport…’

Until an ongoing assessment is completed at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan Airport, the Commonwealth Ports Authority would be unable to determine the exact damage the airport sustained from the destruction of Super Typhoon Yutu.

CPA executive director Christopher S. Tenorio pointed this out to emphasize that there are hidden damage such as electrical components and building integrity that have yet to be determined.

“Although the Saipan airport is back to normal operations, we still have a long road ahead toward recovery,” said Tenorio in his report to the CPA board last Tuesday.

He said there are many items that need to be addressed. For one, the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting training center took a major blow and will need to be repaired.

In his report to the CPA board, Tenorio discussed how CPA employees worked to clean up the damaged areas and removed debris around the airport terminal during the initial week after the typhoon and how CPA worked with the airlines and the South Korean consulate to evacuate about 800 stranded passengers from Saipan.

Tenorio also outlined their efforts that led to the Saipan airport’s re-opening for daytime operations with commercial flights by Nov. 15—less than a month after Yutu.

On Nov. 20, CPA started full operations for both day and night, but majority of the airlines started flying in only on Nov. 27.

Yutu hit Saipan and Tinian last Oct. 24 and 25.

Tenorio said the Saipan airport continued to operate on generators until Nov. 17. To date, he said, CPA is temporarily connected to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power grid.

He said the Federal Aviation Administration worked on the navigational aids by bringing in a few engineers to assist in the repair work. He said a lot of the parts for the damaged navigational aids were from off island.

The air traffic control tower was also severely damaged, so a temporary mobile air traffic controller was set up at the airport.

He said the FAA managed to repair all the navigational aids and conduct the required flight checks by Nov. 27.

The perimeter fence around the airport sustained major damage, so CPA had to post an officer at certain gates and proceed with temporary repairs.

Tenorio said the Transportation Security Administration would not allow them to operate without sufficient security measures. After the temporary fence repairs were completed, CPA had to send the airport security plan to TSA Honolulu for approval. CPA managed to get the TSA’s approval in time for the flights.

He said a lot of the windows at the holding rooms on the international side got blown out by the typhoon, which led to flooding of the terminal. Tenorio said the biggest damage was that they lost all six jetways—the retractable connector that extends from the airport to the plane. The Department of Transportation managed to provide CPA with two stair carts to use in lieu of the jetways.

Tenorio said DOT has already placed an order for four stair carts but it it will take some time to get them as they are being fabricated.

Tenorio said CPA, however had already awarded a contract for the replacement of three jetways using FAA funds.

He said the arrival and installation of the new jetways is expected to take about a year and a half to two years.

CPA’s biggest hit at the Saipan airport were the air conditioners. Fortunately, he said, CPA was already expecting the delivery of the eight new units that were procured prior to the storm. Tenorio said the eight units are already at CPA’s designated location, but some of the ducting were damaged, which caused a delay in installing the new units.

He said CPA has the vendor working on the new units as well as repairing the existing units.

As for the severely damaged Saipan commuter terminal, Tenorio said the facility was covered and closed as it poses a hazard to the public. CPA has already hired engineers to fully assess the commuter building. Once the assessment is done, only then will they be able to determine CPA’s next steps for that building, Tenorio said.

Outside the commuter terminal, the canopy collapsed, posing safety issues. He said CPA immediately hired contractors to remove the pieces of steel lying on the parking lot and blocking the roads.

“Today, you will find a temporary commuter terminal which consist of container offices that CPA provided for the commuter airlines,” he said.

The parking at the airport, he said, is now usable as the contractor cleaned up the area and it is now safe.

On Tinian, Tenorio said the airport opened last Nov. 15 for commercial flights. Unfortunately, he said, the airport only operates during daylight hours because of the lack of navigational aids.

The airport continues to run on generator power. Saipan maintenance personnel did visit the Tinian airport to install some apron lights. Unfortunately, he said, the airport is experiencing electrical issues.

The Port of Tinian continues to have no power. He said vessels calling on the port are instructed to bring their own lighting system. Tenorio said the lighting system for the port has been ordered. “Upon receipt of the lighting system, installation will [start],” he said.