GOV’T INVESTING IN VG AIRPORT TO

ENSURE ITS CONTINUED OPERATION

Last week Government announced that the Virgin Gorda Airport’s operation license has been extended until January 21, 2006, and that the Government is making immediate investments into the airport to ensure that a longer-term license can be granted in the future.

Minister for Communications and Works Honourable J. Alvin Christopher made the announcement in a statement at Legislative Council on 14 December. The Minister said that since Government took control of the Virgin Gorda Airport earlier this year, the BVI Airports Authority in collaboration with the Department of Civil Aviation has been working tirelessly to ensure that the airport meets all the requirements of the regulator, Air Safety Support International (ASSI).

“The Department of Civil Aviation and the BVI Airports Authority will continue to work towards ensuring that all the requirements requested by ASSI are met in connection with the Virgin Gorda Airport. We will address the safety issues that exist at the airport to bring it up to international standards,” he said.

The Minister said that the facility’s newly-extended license can be renewed again upon satisfactory inspection of the aerodrome before the end of January 2006, and will be renewed through March 31, 2006.

Meanwhile, Minister Christopher outlined steps that are being taken to bring the airport in line with international airport safety requirements. The Minister announced that Mr. Coy Levons has been assigned by the Airports Authority as duty manager to oversee the daily operation of the Virgin Gorda Airport.

Other enhancements include strengthening communications and fire-fighting capability. “The two-way air to ground communication has been installed at the airport in Virgin Gorda, and a fire tender along with two officers from Beef Island have also been repositioned on a rotational basis, to ensure that the necessary fire coverage is in place in Virgin Gorda,” the Minister said.

In addition, shrubs and other infringements close to the runway strip were removed.

On November 2 Government entered into an agreement with a Canadian firm, Sypher: Mueller International Inc., to provide it with all possible alternatives to bring the Virgin Gorda Airport to a full licensable standard. A preliminary report from the consultants proposed a number of immediate actions that could be taken to enhance the airport’s compliance with Overseas Territories Aviation Regulations.

Minister Christopher said the recommendations were accepted by Executive Council on December 7, along with other basic requirements that were requested by Air Safety Support International.

“Executive Council has also approved funding in the amount of $800,000 dollars to carry out the necessary improvements to the airport in order to ensure continued air access to Virgin Gorda,” the Minister said

The development of the airport is part of Government’s 92-point Legislative Agenda to ensure the Territory’s infrastructural links are improved and meet international standards.