By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Commerce and Trade Minister Otoichi Besebes said there is a brighter prospect in the aviation industry in Palau as he is also confident that the country would be able to secure its application for extension of the eligibility for Airport Improvement Funds with the Hawaii-based Federal Aviation Administration.
During the recent Regional Aviation Director’s Conference hosted by Palau from March 26-29 at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, Besebes said that the FAA has vowed to continue supporting Palau.
He said that the FAA is lobbying with the US Congress for such extension of the AIP funds for not only Palau but also for Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands.
The AIP funds for the three nations will lapse on September this year.
Just recently, US Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii has extended his full support for this move.
The participants during the conference included Western Pacific Regional Administrator Bill Withycombe and port officials from Palau, Marshall Islands, FSM (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae), Guam, American Samoa, Hawaii and CNMI.
It was the second time that Palau hosted the conference and the next venue will be in Saipan next year.
The main points of discussion are operation, safety and security of the airports within the region.
The participants were brought to the Peleliu airstrips, one of two airports that are on the planning stage for rehabilitation that would make them available in the future as an alternative if something wrong happens to the Palau International Airport in Airai.
The other airstrip is in Angaur.
Besebes said that the State Government of Peleliu has promised to help in the easement works because some portions of the airport there are private-owned lands.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to expand the parking space for the planes of the international airport in Airai, which presently accommodate up to 5 planes at a time.
The ongoing rehabilitation and improvement of the airport cost around $25 million, which is a FAA grant.
The expansion site is located in the Western side, which is part of the airport property.
Another project is the establishment of a weather bureau station to be funded by the US National Weather Bureau.
The FAA has already approved that the site will be close to the new Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility.