THE Federal Aviation Administration will provide the commonwealth government with $2 million for the expansion and completion of Tinian’s airport, Senate President Paul A. Manglona and Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano disclosed yesterday.
Manglona and Adriano said the FAA would also release some $6 million for the security improvements at Saipan International Airport.
Manglona, R-Rota, and Adriano, D-Tinian, were joined by Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas and CPA board member Roman Tudela in a meeting with FAA Region 9 officials in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“The visit was very fruitful,” Manglona said, adding that Salas and the board members should be “credited” for their efforts to further improve the security conditions of the local airports.
According to Adriano, the $2 million grant will be used to complete the apron and taxi way of Tinian’s airport. This will allow bigger aircraft to land on Tinian. The completion of the project is slated in August.
The FAA, however, was “non-committal” regarding Rota’s request for federal funding. The island’s officials want Rota’s runway extended.
But Manglona said they were assured that after a year, the FAA would provide assistance for Rota’s runway extension project.
“They are putting Rota’s request on the table now. We are very confident that the FAA will come out with additional funding. We can get our request within a year,” he added.
